^^^- 


I 


qfer^.. 


\ 


^HO^ 


^:'-^^      ^\S1 


OW\yX      && 


'vAs^ 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


PAULINE  FORE  MOFFITT  LIBRARY 


>^^-   ,: 


5? 


S' 


1  'J 


\  SKETCHES 


OF   TH£ 

Kiftory,    Genius,  Difpofition,    Accomplifhraeats, 

Emplo/moottf  Cuftoms,  Virtues,   and    Vices, 
OF   THE 

FAIR  SEX, 

-IN   ALL    FARTS   OF    THE   WORLD. 

INTERSPERSED 

"-—    •'•?"-     SINGULAR     AND   ENTERTAINING 

ANECDOTES. 


By  a  Friend  to  the  Sex. 


*'  Graceful  in  all  her  fteps— Heaven  in  her  eye— In  ev?ry  gcfturc^ 
dignity  and  love——'* 


BOSTON  : 

fRINTED  FOR    JOSEPH  BUMSTEAD^ 
(Printer  and  Bookfcller) 

&W  f»y  him  at  No.  2o,  Union-Street,  and  by    Bo'^clkr: 

m  varmt  Parts  nf  the  United  StaUi» 

i8o7» 


ADVERTISEMENT, 


TO  give  a  hrtef  detail  of  the   hijiory  of  the  Fair 
X — to  fpccite  them  to  Laudable  purfuiti — to  teach  them 

:,t 

*'  Virtue  alone  is  happinefs  below — ^^ 

that  an  amiable  conduB  can  only  fecure  Uve  and  ejleem — 
and  to  furnijh  them  with  innocent  amufement — is  the 
dfftgn  of  this   work, 

^  he  following  authors  have  been  confulted  for  f^,ate-' 
rialsy  viz — Drs.  Robertfon,  Alexander,  Hawkefworthj 
Goldfmith,  Gregory,  Fordycc,  and  Schomberg — Pro^ 
fejors  Fergufon  and  Miller — Fcnelon,  Montaigne, 
Thomas,  Groiley,  Knox,  and  Hayley — Lady  Penning- 
ton, Mrs.  Kinder  (ley,  and  others. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES- 


OF   THR 


FAIR   SEX. 


CHAP.    L 

0/  the  Firjl  IFimmn^  and  her  AnteiUluvian  Befccndants* 

HE  great  Creator,    having  formed  man 

of  the  duft  of  the  earth,  "  made  a  deep  fleep  to  fall 
upon  him,  and  took  one  of  his  ribs,  and  clofed  up 
the  fltjfh  infteaJ  thereof.  And  the  rib,  which  the 
L  rd  God  haJ  taken  from  man,  made  he  a  woman, 
and  broug.^  her  unto  the  man."  Hence  the  fair 
fex,  in  ihe  opinion  of  f^me  authors,  being  formed  of 
matter  d  )ubly  refined,  derive  their  iuperior  beauty 
and  ex  tUcr.ce.  - 

N  r  I  ng  after  the  creation,  the  firft  woman 
was  tempted  by  the  ferpent  to  eat  of  the  fruit  of  a 
C'-nnin  tree,  iu  the  mid  '.  (  f  the  garden  of  Eden, 
^  '  n  which  God  had  (aid,  '*  Ye  lliall  not 

t  a.-r  (hall  y.e  touch  it,  left  ve  die/' 

'i  i\i6  deception,  aud  tae  fatal  confequences  ari- 
Cng  Iroin  it,  farnidi  the  moH  intcrclling  ftory  in  the 
whole  hiftory  of  the  L;-:. 

1  . 


6  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

On  the  offerings  being  brought,  and  that  of 
Abel  accepted  ^Cain's  jealoufy  and  refentment  role 
to  inch  a  pttei '  ^UT,  as  C^^^jsthey  cams  down 
from  the  hioimt"  -v^ere  Ixydf'^ifSS^efi  lac^lSiLcing^ 
he  fell  upon  his  brother  and  flew  him. 

For  this  cruel  and  barbarous  aftibn^Cam  and  his 
poiterity,  being  banifned  from  the  reft  of  the  human 
race,  indulged  themfelves  in  every  fpecies  of  wicked- 
nefs.  Gn  this  account,  it  is  fuppofed,  they  were  caU 
ied  the  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Men.  The  pofterity  ot 
Seth,  on  the  other  hand,  became  eminent  for  virtue, 
and  a,  regard  to  the  divine  precepts.  By  their  regular 
and  amiable  conduft,  they  acquired  the  appellation 
of  Sons  arid  Daughters  of  God. 

After  the  deluge  there  is  a  chafm  in  the  hiftory  of 
women,  until  the  time  of  the  patriarch  Abraham* 
They  then  begin  to  be  introduced  into  the  facred 
flory.  Several  of  their  affions.  are  recorded.  The 
Jaws,  cuftoms,  and  ufages,  by  which  they  were  gov- 
erned, are. frequently  exhibited,. 


^j^SJga 


CHAP..  IK 

Gf  the  Women  in  the  Patriarchal  J g£S 4 

f  HE  condhionof  women,  among  the  ancient  pa-^ 
tnarchs,  appears  to  have  been  but  extremely  indif- 
ferent. When  Abraham  entertained  the  angels,  fent 
to  den -unce  the  deftruftion  of  Sodom,  he  feems  to 
have  treated  his  wife  as  a  menial  fervant;  "  Make 
ready  quickly,''  iaid  he  to  her,  "  three  meafures  of 
fine  meal,  kner.d  it,  and  make  cakes  on  the  hearth/' 
In  many  parts  of  the  Ewft,  water  is  only  to 
h^  met  with  deep  in  the  earth,  and  to  draw  it  from 
the  w-ells  is,  ccyijiequently,  fatiguing  and  laborious. 
ThiSj  hQwcv€r5was  the  talk  of  the  daughters  of  Jethro 


bKETCiiio  o:    Aiih  SEX.  7 

theMidianite;  to  whom  fo  little  regard  was  paiJ^either 
on  account  of  their  lex,  or  the  rank  of  their  father,  as 
high-prielt  of  the  couiury,  tnat  the  neighboring  fhep- 
.  her  Js  not  only  infutted  them,  but  forcibly  took  from 
them  the  water  they  had  drawn. 

I'his  was  the  talk  of  Rebecca,  w^ho  not  only 
drew  w^ater  for  Abraham's  fcrvant,  but  for  his  camels 
alio,  while  the  fervant  Itood  an  idle  fpeftator  of  the 
toil.  Is  it  not  natural  to  imagine,  that,  as  he  was  on 
an  embaffy  to  court  the  d.unfel  for  Ifaac,  his  mafter's 
fon,  he  would  have  exerted  his  utnioit  eftbrts  to 
pleafe,  and  become  acceptable  ? 

W^hea  he  had  concluded  his  bargain,  and  was 
carrying^her  home,  we  meet  with  a  circumitance  wor- 
thy of  remark..  When  (he  lirtt  approached  Ifaac, 
who  had  walked  out  into  the  fi  Ids  to  meet  her,  fhe 
did  it  in  tha  moft  fubmiflive  manner,  as  if  fhe  had 
been  approaching  a  lord  and  mafter,  rather  than  a 
fond  and  pailionate  lover.  From  this  circumdance, 
as  well  as  jrom  fcverai  others,  related  in  the  facred 
\  iftory,  it  would  fetm  that  women,  inftead  of  endea- 
vourir.g,  as  in  modern  times,  to  perluade  the  world 
that  they  confer  an  immenle  favour  on  a  lover,  by 
dcigmng  to  accept  of  him,  did  not  fcruple  to  confefs, 
tiiat  the  obligation  was  conferred  on  themfelves. 

'Ihis  was  t:  e  cafe  wh  Ruth,  who  had  laid  hcrfelf 
down  at  the  feet  of  lioaz  ;  and  being  aikrd  by  him 
who  fhe  w;'s,  anfwered,  ''  I  am  Ruth,  thine  hand- 
maid  ;  iprcad,  therefore,  thy  ikirt  ovct  thine  hand- 
maid, tor  thou  art  a  ne?r  kinlman." 

When  Jacob  went  to  v  fi:  his  uncle  La^.an,  he 
met  Rach.d,  Laban's  daughter,  in  the  ficli^:,  atten- 
ding on  the  fljcks  cf  her  f.aher. 

In  a  much  later  period,  Tamar,  one  of  the 
'tx^R  cf  king  David,  was  lent  by  her  father  to 
,   .    nn  the  fervile  ciii:e  of  making  cakes  for  her 
brother  Amnon. 

Thefimplicityof  ihetimesin  v/hich  thefe  things 
happened,  no  doubr,  very  much  invalidates  tne  Ib-ength 


3  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

of  the  conclufions  that  mtnrally  arife  from  thero. 

liut,  notwiihftanding,  it  ftill  appears  that  women 

were  not  then  treated  with  the  delicacy  which  they 

have  experienced  aiiiODg  people  more  polifhed  ami 

refined. 

Polygamy  alfo  prevailed;  which  is  fo  contrary 
to  the  inclination  of  the  fex,  and  fo  deeply  wounds 
the  delicacy  of  their  feelings,  that  it  is  impoflible 
for  any  woman  voluntarily  to  agree  to  it,  evea  where 
it  is  authorized  by  cuftom  and  by  lalv.  Whereever 
therefore,  polygamy  takes  place,  we  may  aflure  our- 
felves  that  women  have  but  little  authority,  and  have 
fc^rcely  arrived  at  any  confequence  in  fociety. 


=:SS2^ 


CHAP.  III. 

Ofihc  Woyyien  of  Ancient  Egypt,- 


w. 


HEREVER  the  human  race  live  folitary^ 
and  unconnected  with  each  ether,  they  are  favage  and 
barbarous.  Wherever  they  sffociate  together,  that 
afE:ciation  produces  fofter  manners,  and  a  more  en- 
gaging department. 

The  Sgyptiacs,  from  the  naiure  of  their  coun- 
try, annually  cverflowed  by  the  Nile,  had  no  wild 
beafts  to  hunt,  nor  could  they  procure  any  thing  by 
fifhing.  On  thefe  accounts,  they  were  ur-der  a  ne- 
ceffity  of  applying  themfelves  to  agriculture,  a  kind 
of  life  which  naturally  brings  mankind  together,  for 
mutu'cd  consilience  and  alFifiance. 

They  were,  likewife,  every  year,  during  the  in- 
undation of  the  river,  obliged  to  aifemble  together, 
and  take  fhelter,  either  on  the  rifmg  grounds,  or  in 
the  houfes,  whcch  were  raifed  upon  piles,  above  the 
reach  of  the  waters.  Here,  almoft  every  employment 
being  fufpended;  and  the  men  and  women  long  con 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  9 

fined  together,  a  thoufend  inducements,  not  to  be 
found  in  ii  folitary-  ftate,  would  naturally  prompt  them 
to  render  themielves  agreeable  to  each  other.  Hence 
their  manners  would  begin,  more  early,  to  afllime  a 
(otter  polifh,  and  more  elegant  refi::eraenr,  than  thofe 
of  tl^  other  nations  who  iurrouaded  them. 

The  praftice  of  confining  women,  inltituted  by 
jealoufy,  and  maintained  b^  unlawful  power,  was 
not  adopted  by  the  ancient  Egyptians,  I'his  appears 
from  the  ftory  of  Pharoah's  daughter,,  who  was  go- 
with  her  train  of  maids  to  bathe  in  the  river, 
leu  Ihe  fuund  Mofes  hid  among  the  reeds.  It  is. 
_  ni  more  evident,  from  thac  of  the  wife  of  Potiphar* 
who,  if  fhe  had  been  confined,  could  not  have  found 
the  opportunities  fhe  did,  to  folicit  Jofeph  to  her 
adulrerous  embrace. 

The  queens  of  Egypt  had  the  greatefl  attention 
paid  to  thera*  They  were  more  readily  obeyed  than 
the  kings.  It  is  alfo  related,  that  the  hufbands  were 
In  their  marriage-con trafts,  obliged  to  promife  obe- 
dience to  their  wives  y  ^'^an  obedience,'^  fays  an  in- 
genious author,*  "  which,  in  our  modern  times,  we 
are  often  obliged  to  perform,  though  our  wives  en» 
tered  in.to  the  promife.'*^ 

The  behaviour  of  Solomon  to  Pharoah's  daugh- 
ter is  a  convincing;  proof  that  more  honor  and  refpeft 
was  paid  to  the  Egyptian  women,  than  to  thofe  of 
any  other  people.  Solomon  had  many  other  wives 
belides  this  princefs,  and  was  married  to  feveral  of 
them  hefore  her,  which,  according  to  the  Jewifh  law, 
on^'"' f  f  >  ivM/..  Mntwi^d  them  to  a  preference.  But, 
no  ,  we  hear  of  no  particular  pahce 

haviij-  ,;ccu  uu.ii  ior  any  of  the  others,  nor  of  the; 
worfhip  of  any  of  their  gods  havii^g  been  introduced 
into  Jc      '        'TV  -  "    Pit  palice  was  ereft- 

cd  h  r  .  ihe  was  permitted, 

th'  Lrary  to  the  liws  ol  Ifrael,  toi 

^'•'  her  own  country. 


io  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

CHAP.  IV. 
Cffthe  Modern  Egyptian  Women. 


HE  women  of  modern  Egypt  are  far  from  being 
on  lb  refpe£lable  a  footing  as  they  were  in  ancient 
times,  or  as  the  European  women  are  at  prefent. 

In  Europe,  women  a6t  parts  of  great  confe- 
quence,  and  often  reign  fovereigns  on  the  world's 
vaft  theatre.  They  influene^jmanners  and  morals, 
and  decide  on  themoft  important  events.  The  fate 
of  nations  is  frequently  in  their  hands. 

How  different  is  their  fituation  in  Egypt !  There 
they  are  bound  down  by  the  fetters  of  flavery,  con- 
demned to  fervitude,  and  have  no  influence  in  public 
affairs.  Their  empire  is  confined  within  the  walls  of 
the  Harem.*  There  are  their  graces  and  charms  en- 
tombed. The  circle  of  their  life  extends  not  beyond 
their  own  family  and  domeitic  duties. 

Their  firft  care  is  to  educate  their  children  ;  and 
a  numerous  pofterity  is'their  moft  fervent  wiih.  Mo- 
thers always  fuckle  their  children.  This  is  exgrefsfy 
commanded  by  Mahomet :  Let  the  mother  fuckle  her 
child  full  two  years ^  if  the  child  does  not  quit  the  hreafl  ,- 
hutfhefljall  be  permitted  to  wean  it^  with  the  confent  of  her 
hiifhand^ 

The  harem  is  the  cradle  and  fchool  of  infancy. 
The  new-born  feeble  being  is  not  there  fwaddled  and 
fiUetted  up  in  a  fwathe,  the  fource  of  a  thoufand  dif- 
eafes.  Laid  naked  on  a  mat,  expofed  in  a  vail  cham- 
ber to  the  pure  air,  he  breathes  freely,  and  with  his 
delicate  limbs  fprawls  at  pleafure.  The  new  element, 
in  which  he  is  to  live,  is  not  entered  with  pain  and 
tears.  Daily  bathed  beneath  his  mother's  eye,  ha 
grows  apace.  Free  to  acl,  he  tries  his  coming  pow- 
ers ;  rolls,  crawls,  rifes ;  and,  fhould  he  fall,  cannot 

*  The  Women's  apartment, 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  n 

inch  hurt  hinalelf  on  the  carpet  or  mat  which  cov- 
rs  the  floor. 

The  daughter's  education  is  the  fame.  Whale- 
one  and  bulks,  which  martyr  European  girls,  they 
now  not.  They  are  only  covered  with  a  (hift  un- 
il  iix  years  old  :  and  the  drels  they  afterwards  wear 
oniiaes  none  of  their  limbs,  but  fuffers  the  body  to 
ake  its  true  form  ;  and  nothing  is  more  uncommon 
han  ricketty  children,  and  crooked  people.  In  Egypt, 
nan  rifes  in  all  hismajefty,  and  woman  dii'pkys  eve- 
y  charm  of  perfoR. 

Subjeft  to  the  immutable  laws  by  which  cuftom 
governs  the  Eaft,  the  women  do  not  aflbciate  with  the 
Tien,not  even  at  table,  where  the  union  of  fexes  pro- 
.luces  mirth  and  wit,  and  makes  food  more  fweet. 
When  the  great  incline  to  dine  with  one  of  their 
wives,  fhe  is  informed,  prepares  the  apartment,  per- 
fumes it  with  precious  eflences,  procures  the  moil 
delicate  viands,  and  receives  her  lord  with  the  utmoft 
attention  and  refpeft. 

Among  the  common  people,  the  women  ufually 
Sand,  or  lit  in  a  corner  of  the  room,  while  the  huf- 
band  dines.  They  often  hold  the  baton  for  him  to 
walh,  and  ferve  him  at  table. 

Cuftoms  like  thefe,  which  the  Europeans  rightly 
rail  barbarous,  and  exclaim  ugainft  with  juftice,  ap- 
pear fo  natural  in  Egypt,  that  they  do  not  fufpeft  it 
'-an  be  otherwife  eli'ewhere.  Such  is  the  power  of 
habit  over  men.  What  has  been  for  ages,  he  fup- 
potes  a  hw  of  nature. 

The  Egyptian  women,  once  or  twice  a  week,  are 
permitted  to  go  to  the  bath,  and  vifit  female  relations 
and  friends.  They  receive  each  other's  vifits  very  af- 
feftionatelv.  When  a  lady  enters  the  harem,  the 
nv.ftreis  rifes,  takes  her  hand,  prefllsit  to  her  bofom, 
kJfles,  and  makes  her  fit  down  by  her  fide ;  a  flave 
haflecs  to  take  her  black  mantle  ;  (he  is  entreated  to 
be  at  eale.  qdts  her  veil,  and  difcovers  a  floating  robe 
lied  round  the  waill  with  a  fafh,  which  perfeftly  dif- 


i^  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

plays  her  fliape.    She  then  receives  compliments  a 
cording  to  their  manner:  "  Why,  my  mother,  or  my  , 
lifter,  have  you  been  ib  long  abfent  ?    We  fighed  to 
fee  you !     Y  cur  prefence  is  an  honour  to  our  houfe  I 
It  is  the  happinefs  of  cur  lives  !'* 

Slaves  prefent  coffee,  fherbet,  and  confeftionary. 
They  laugh,  talk  and  play.  A  large  difh  is  placed 
on  the  fofa,  on  which  are  oranges,  pomegranates, 
bananas,  and  excellent  melons*  Water,  and  rofe-  ■ 
water  mixed^  are  brought  in  an  ewer,  and  with  them 
a  Giver  bafon  to  waih  the  hands ;  and  loud  glee  and 
merry  con verfation  feafon  the  meal.  The  chamber 
is  perfumed  by  wood  of  aloes,  in  a  brazier ;  and,  the 
repaft  ended,  the  flaves  dance  to  the  found  of  cym- 
bals, with  v/hom  the  miftreffes  often  mingle.  At 
parting  they  feveral  times  repeat,  "  God  keep  you  ia 
health  3  Heaven  grant  you  a  numerous  offspring  \ 
Heavea  preferve  your  children  ;  the  delight  and  glo- 
ry of  your  family  !'* 

When  a  vifitor  is  in  the  harem,  the  huf  band  muft 
not  enter.  It  is  the  afylum  of  hofpitality,  and  can- 
not be  violated  without  fatal  confequences  ;  a  cher- 
ilhed  right,  which  the  Egyptian  women  carefully 
maintain,  being  interefted  in  its  prefervation.  A 
lover,  diiguifed  like  a  woman,  may  be  introduced  in- 
to the  harem,  and  it  is  n.^ceffary  he  fhould  remain 
undifcovel-ed  ;  deathvwould  otherwife  be  his  reward* 
In  that  country,  where  the  paffions  are  excited  by  the 
climate,  and  the  difficulty  of  gratifying  them,  love 
often  produces  tragical  events. 

The  Egyptian  women,  guarded  by  their  eunuchs, 
go  alfo  upon  the  water,  and  enjoy  the  charming  prof- 
pects  of  the  banks  of  the  Nile.  Their  cabins  are 
pleafant,  richly  embellifhed,  and  the  boats  well  carv- 
ed and  painted.  They  are  known  hy  the  blinds 
over  the  windows,  and  the  muiic  by  which  they  are 
accompanied. 

When  they  cannot  go  abroad,  th^-pdeavor  to 
be  merry  in  their  prifon.    Toward  ^la-wtingy  they 


SKETCHES  or  the  SEX.  13 

f:o  on  the  terrace,  and  take  the  frefli  air  among  the 
kowers  which  are  there  carefully  reared.  Here  they 
often  bathe ;  and  thus,  at  once,  enjoy  the  cool,  lim- 
pid water,  the  perfume  of  odoriferous  plants,  the 
balmy  air,  and  the  ftarry  hoft,  which  fhine  in  the 
firmaments 

Thus  Bathfheba  bathed,  when  David  beheld 
her  from  the  roof  of !  is  palace. 

Such  is  the  uiual  life  of  the  Egyptian  women. 
Their  duties  are  to  educate  their  children,  take  care 
of  their  houfhol  1,  and  live  retired  with  their  family  : 
their  pleafures,  to  vifit,  give  feafts,  ia  which  they  of- 
ten yield  to  exceffive  mirth  and  licenticulbefs,  go  on 
the  water,  take  the  air  in  orange  groves,  and  liften 
to  the  Almai.  They  deck  themfcives  as  carefully 
to  receive  their  acquaintance,  as  European  women 
do  to  allure  the  men.  Ufually  mild  and  timid,  they 
become  daring  and  furious,  when  uuder  the  domin- 
ion of  violent  love*  Neither  Iccks  nor  grim  keep- 
ers can  then  prefcribebounds  to  their  paffions ;  which, 
though  death  be  fufpended  over  their  heads,  they 
fearch  the  means  to  gratify,  and  are  feldom  unfuccelsf ul. 


.-fi^Qji 


s. 


CHAP.  V. 

Of  the  Perfian  Women. 


_>EVERAL  hiftorians,  in  mendoning  the  ancient 
Perfians,  have  dwelt  with  peculiar  feveiity  on  the 
manner  in  which  they  treated  their  women.  Jea- 
lous, aim  .it  10  diltn^ftion,  they  conUi^ed  the  whole 
-lex  with  the  ftrifteft  attention,  and  ccuLi  not  bear 
that  tlie  eye  of  a  flranger  fhould  behold  the  beauty 
whom  rhcv  adored. 

1  Mahomet,  the  great  legiilator  of  the  mod- 
s,  was  juft  expiring,  the  hit  rd vice  that 
lois  faithful  adherents,  was,    ''  Be  watch- 
II 


14  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

ful  of  your  religion,  and  your  wives."  Hence  they 
pretend  to  derive  not  only  the  power  of  confioing, 
!>ut  alio  of  perfuading  them,  that  they  hazard  their 
falvation,  if  they  look  up-)n  any  other  man  befides 
their  huf])ands.  'i  he  Chriftian'  religion  informs  us, 
that  in  the  ether  world  they  neither  marry,  nor  are 
given  in  marriage.  I'he  religion  of  Mahomet  teaches 
us  a  different  d.  ftrine,  v/hlch  the  Perfians  believing, 
carry  the  jealcnfy  of  Afia  to  the  firlds  of  Elyfium, 
and  the  groves  of  Paradiie  ;  where,  according  to 
them,  the  hiefled  inhabitants  have  their  eyes  placed 
on  the  crown  of  their  heads*  left  they  fliould  fee  the 
wives  of  their  ne  ghbors. 

Every  circumiiance  in  the  Perfian  Mfrory  tends 
to  perfuade  us,  that  It e  motive,  w^hich  induced  thera 
to  confine  their  women  with  fo  much  care  and  fohci- 
tude,  was  only  exuberance  of  love  and  affedion.  In 
the  enipymeoi  of  their  firjiies.  and  iheir  embraces,  the 
happinefs  of  the  men  coniifted,  and  their  approbation 
was  an  incentive  to  deeds  cf  glory  and  ofheroifm* 
For  thale  realbns  they  are  faid  to  have  beeu  the  firft 
who  introduced  the  cuftomof  carrying  their  wives  and 
concubines  to  the  field,  ^*That  the  light,"  faid  they, 
*'  of  all  that  is  dear  to  us,  may  animate  us  to  fight 
more  valiantly/'' 

lb  offer  The  lei-ft  viol  nee  to  a  Perfian  woman, 
w^as  to  incur  certain  death  from  her  hulband  or  guar- 
dian. E\'en  their  kings,  though  the  mdi  abfokite  in 
tl^e  univerfe,  could  net  rlter  the  mr.nners  or  cuftoms 
of  the  Country,  which  related  to  (he  fair  fex. 

Widely  diH^rent  from  this  is  the  prefeut  ftate  of 
Peifi  1.  By  a  law  of  t'r  at  country,  their  monarch  is 
now  authcrV/ed  to  go.  whenever  h:^  pleaDs,  into  the 
har^m  of  anv  of  his  fubj:fts ;  and  the  fubjeft,^  on 
wnofe  prerrgative  he  thu?  encroiirhes,  fo  far  from 
exerting  his\ifuil  jer.loufy,  thinks  himfelf  highly 
honored  by  fuch  a  vifit. 

'  A  laughable  frory,  on  this  fubjcft,  is  told  of  Shah 
Al-b3S5  who  having  got  drunk  at  the  houie  of  one  0/ 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX,  ig 

his  favourites,  and  intending  to  go  into  the  apart- 
ment  of  his  wives,  was  flopped  by  the  door-keeper, 
who  blantly  told  him,  "  Not  a  man.  Sir,  befides  my 
mafter,  Ihali  put  a  muftacho  here,  fo  long  as  1  am 
porter."  "  What,''  faid  the  kine,  *'  doit  thou  not 
know  me  r"  ".Yes,"  anfwered  the  fellow,  "Ilcnow 
you  are  king  of  the  men,  but  not  of  the  women.** 
Shah  Abbas,  pleafed  witn  the  anfwer,  and  the  fideli- 
ty of  the  fervant,  retired  to  his  palace.  The  favor- 
ite,  at  whofe  houfe  the  adventure  happened,  as  fooa 
as  he  heard  it,  went  and  fell  at  his  mailer's  feet,  in- 
treati  :g  that  he  would  not  impute  to  him  the  crime 
committed  by  his  domeilic.  He  likewife  added,  "  I 
have  already  turned  him  away  from  my  fervica  for 
bis  prefumption." — ^'  1  am  glad  of  it,"  anfwered  the 
king ;  "i  will  take  him  into  my  fervice  for  his  fidelity.^' 


=:^ 


I 


ClIIAP.  VL 
Of  the  Grecian  Wcincn. 


_T  is  obferved  by  an  able  panegyrift  for  the  fair, 
**  That  the  gfeateft  refped  has  always  been  paid  them 
by  liie  wilcii  and  bePc  of  nations."  If  this  be  true, 
the  Greeks  certainly  forfeited  one  great  claim  to  that 
vifdom  wlr.ch  has  always  befn  atiribu'.ed  to,  them  ; 
for  wc  h;iv3  good  reaC^n  to  believe,  that  they  regard- 
ed their  wom-iii  only  as  inflruments  of  raifmg  up 
ijierol^ers  to  the  ft  ue. 

in  order  to  tileera  the  fex,  we  mu£b  do  Fxiorc 
than  fee  them.  By  f^cial^  intercourfe,  and  a  mutual 
reciprocatirm  of  good  office?,  we  m.ufl  become  ac- 
Quainied  with  their  Wv.rth  and  excellence.  1  his,  to 
the  G reeks,  was  a  pleaiin:^  totally  unknown.  As  the 
womrn  Uved  retired  in  their  own  apartments,  if  they 
T,  .1  .  ,.  .,„.;  >.  1..  -ualities,  they  were  iT^uiied  in  per- 
Evcn  hu [bands  were,  in  Sparta, 


t6-  sketches  of  the  sex. 

limited  as  to  the  time  and  duration  of  the  vifits  made 
to  their  wives  ;  and  it  was  the  cuftom  at  meals  for 
the  two  fexC'S  always  to  eat  feparately. 

The  apartiiients  detaaed  for  the  women,  in  order 
to  keep  them  more  private,  were  always  in  the  back, 
and  generally  in  I  he  upper  part  of  the  houfe*  The 
famous  Helen  is  laid  to  have  had  her  chamber  in  the 
iof  tieil:  part  of  it ;  and  fo  wTetched  were  their  dw^el- 
Imgs,  that  even  Penelope,  qiieea  of  Ulyfles,  leems  to 
have  deicended  from  hers  by  a  ladder. 

Unmarried  women,  whether  maids  or  widows, 
were  under  the  ftrifteft  confinement.  The  former, 
indeed,  were  not  allowed  to  pafs  without  leave  from 
one  part  of  the  houfe  to  another,  left  they  fhould 
be  feen. 

New  married  women  were  almoft  as  flriftly  con- 
tined  as  virgins.  Hermoine  was  feverely  reproved  by 
iier  old  duenna,  for  appearing  out  of  doors  ;  a  iree- 
dom,  wnich,  (he  tells  her,  was  not  ufually  taken  by 
v/omen  in  her  fituation,  and  which  would  endanger 
her  reputation  fhould  fhe  happen  to  be  feen. 

Ariliophanes  introduces  an  Athenian  lady,  loud- 
ly compiaininp;,  that  women  were  confined  to  iheir 
chambers,  under  lock  and  key,  and  guarded  by  maf. 
tiifs,  gobiiiis,  or  any  thing  that  could  frighten  away 
admirers. 

The  confinement  however  of  the  Grecian  wo- 
men, does  npt  appear,  in  fome  cafes,  to  have  been  fo 
much  the  titcft  of  jealoufy,  as  of  indifference.  The 
men  did  not  think  them  proper  companions ;  and 
that  ignorance,  which  is  the  refult  of  a  reclufe  life, 
gave  them  too  good  reafoo  to  think  fo.  Nothing  in 
Gretce  was  held  ia  efiimarion,  but  valor  and  elo- 
quence. Nature  hi'd  difqualified  the  fair  fex  for  both. 
They  were  therefore  confidered  as  mean  and  con- 
temptible beings,  much  beneath  the  n-'tice  cf  heroe 
and  of  orators,  who  feldcm  favored  them  with  thei. 
company.  Thus  def-rted  by  a  fex  which  onght  to 
bethefource  of  knov/ledge,  the  ucderftaiiding^  of  the 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  i- 

women  were  but  fliallow,  and  their  company  unin- 
tereftiag  ;  circumlbiDceo  which  invariably  happen  in 
every  country  wh.^re  the  two  fcxes  have  Utile  coin- 
Hionication  with  each  other. 

In  pauiing  the  Grecian  Iiiftory,  weevtry  where 
meet  wiih  the  mofl  convincing  proofs  of  the  low 
condition  of  their  women.  Homer  confiders  Helen, 
the  wife  of  Mei  daus,  of  littb  other  vulue  than  as  a 
part  of  the  goods  which  were  ilolen  along  with  her; 
and  the  reflitutioii  of  thefe,  and  of  her,  are  common- 
ly mentioned  in  the  lame  fentence,  in  fuch  a  m.anner, 
Hs  to  ih^w,  that  fuch  reftitution  would  be  co::lidered 
.^  a  full  reparation  of  the  .injury  fu5:ained. 

The  fame  author,  in  eeltbrating  Penelope^  the 
:,  :fe  of  UlyiTes,  £;r  refufing  in  his  ablence  fo  many 
luitors,  does  not  appear  to  pla:e  the  merit  of  her  con- 
duct, in  a  fuperi.:r  regard  to  chaftity,  or  in  love  to 
her  hufband  ;  but  in  preferving  lo  his  fam'ly  the 
the  dowry  the  had  brought  along  with  her,  woich,  oa 
a  f  !Cond  marriage,  mull  kive  be:;n  reliored  to  her 
father  Icarius. 

Telemachusis  always  reprefented  as  a  mcft  du- 
tiful foDr  But,  notwithttanding  this,  we  find  him  re- 
proving Ills  mother  in  a  manner  which  ihrws  that  the 
fex,  in  general,  were  not  treated  wi'.h  il.ftnefs  and 
delicicy,  however  dignified,  or  wiih  whatever  au- 
thority inverted. 

**  Ycur  widowed  hours,  apart  with  female  toil, 
•'  And  various  labors  of  tiie  loom,  beiiuile. 
'*  I  here  rufc,  from  palace  cares  ren^'^te  and  free  ; 
"  That  care  to  man  belongs,  and  moll  to  me." 

If  wc  take  a  view  of  the  privileges  beltow^ed  by 
iw  or  cuftom  on  the  Grecian  women,  we  fhall  fincf, 
that,  in  the  earlier  ages,  they  were  allowed  a  vote  in 
the  publ'c  aiTemblics.  This  p^-ivile^e,  however,  was 
afterwards  taken  from  th-m.  They  fucccedrd  equally 
with  brothers  to  the  iniieritance  of  their  fathers;  ani 
to  the  whcle  of  that  inheritance,  if  they  had  nu  broth- 

II  2         ' 


1 8  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

ers.  But  to  this  laft  privilege  w.^s  always  tinnexed  a 
circuiiiftance,  which  muft  have  been  extremely  difa- 
greeable  to  every  woman  of  fentiment  and  feeling. 
An  heirefs  was  obliged,  by  the  laws  of  Greece,  to 
marry  her  neareft  relation,'  that  the  eftite  might  not 
go  our  of  the  family  ;  and  this  relation,  in  cafe  of  a 
refufal,  had  a  right'to  fue  for  the  delivery  of  h^r 
perfon,  as  we  do  for  goods  and  chattels. 

He  who  divorced  his  wife  was  obliged  either  to 
return  her  dowry,  or  pay  her  fo  much  per  month, 
by  way  of  miiiiteiiance.  Ke  w^ho  ravifhed  a  free 
woman  w^as  obliged  in  fome  ftates  to  marry  her,  in 
ethers  to  pay  a  i.undred,  and  in  others  again,  a  thou* 
land  drpxhmas. 

But,  when' we  imp3rtially  confider  the  good  and 

.cut  of  the  Gr5chin  wom.en,  we  find  that  the 

i:..  ....„  Vv'as  much  egaintt  them,  and  may  therefore 

conclude,  that,  though  tke  Greeks  were  emir.ent  in 
;irts,  and  ilhiftricus  in  arms  ;  yet,  in  politenefs  and 
elegance  of  manners,  the  higheft  pitch  to  which  t'ey 
ever  arrived,  was  ci:ly  a  few  degrees  above  lavage 
barbarity. 

In  the  different  cer*as  of  Grecian  hiftory,  howev- 
er, we  muPc  not  fupp'Te  that  thev/onnen  were  always 
the  fame.  It  appears  that  the  mam-ers  in  the  Ifles  of 
Greece,  in  geiier.il,  v/ere  much  purer  than  on  the 
-ontiiient.  1  ncfct  ifl^inders,  by  being  lefs  expofedto 
'orcrign  intercourfe,  could  more  eafily  preferve  their 
■:ws  and  their  virtues.  The  war-like  converts  of 
jrxeclemxon,  the  nurferies  oily  of  foldicrs,  would  be 
much  more  rigii  i^ian  the  fmihng  retreats  of  Athens, 
v/he:  ce  p  iirenefs  was  prcpa^aed,  and  fafhion  an- 
nounced;  and  the  city  ofThetes,  where  a  rufcic 
groiihi:-rs  lupplied  the  place  of  an  el-gant  luxury,  muft 
have  been  very  different  from  Corinth,  wykh  on 
iccouf.t  cf  its  fitu'Uion  and  commerce,  obtained  the 
ame  of  the  "  The  two  feats  of  Wealth  and  Plcalure." 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  19 

CHAP.  VIL 

Cf  the  Grecian  Courtezans. 

X  HE  rank  which  the  courtezans  enjoyed,  even 
in  t  le  bri^hteft  ages  of  Greece,  and  particularly  at 
Athens,  is  one  of  the  greateft  fingularities  in  the 
manners  of  any  people.  By  what  circumftances 
could  that  order  of  wo;aen,  who  debafe  at  once  their 
own  fcx  an.i  ours — in  a  country,  where  the  womea 
were  poflelTed  of  raodefty,  and  the  men  of  fenti- 
ment,  arrive  at  diftinftion,  and  fomelimes  even  at  the 
higheft  degree  of  reputation  and  confequence  ?— ^ 
Several  reafons  may  be  aliigned  for  that  p-ienomen^ 
oji  in  ibciety. 

In  Greece,  the  courtezans  were  in  fome  mea- 
fure  connefted  with  the  religion  of  the  country.  The 
godJefs  of  Bep.uty  had  her  altars  ;  and  flie  was  fup* 
poled  to  pr  teft  pVoflitution,  which  was  to  her  a  fpe- 
cies  of  worfhip.  The  people  invoked  Venus  in  limes 
of  danger;  and,  after  a  I  atile,  they  thought  they 
had  done  honor  to  Milriades  and  I'hemiftocles,  be- 
caufe  ihc  Laifcs  and  t ::e  Glycenis  of  the  age  had 
' '  aunted  hym.is  to  their  goddefs. 

The  courtezans  v/ere  likewife  connefted  with  re- 
r^ion,  by  means  of  the  arts.  1  heir  perfons  alFcrd- 
ea  models  for  flitues,  which  were  afterwards  adored 
jr.    ■  nl^s.      Phri  e  ferved  as  a  model  to  Prax- 

it-  !'s  Venus  of  ClriJcs.     During  the  feafts 

or  \pp:-'les  hiving  feen  the 

1*.  .jie,  wiriiout  any  other 

cr  loofe  ar.d  ib wing  hair,  was  fo  much 
^^-r  apfie-raiice,  tnat  he  borrowed  from 

''■  Veaus  rifing  from  the  wnves. 
v>vi\3,  therefore,  connefted  with  ft:ituc>ry 
.  ?;,  as  they  fumilh-d  thepradifcrs  of  thofe 


«? 


20  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX, 

and,  as  that  art  was  attended  with  higher  effects  in 
Greece,  than  it  has  ever  been  in  any  other  country, 
it  mull  hiive  pjffeffed,  in  their  hands,  an.  irrefiftible 
charm. 

Every  one  knows  how  enthufiaflic  the  Greek's 
were  of  beau<y.  They  adored  it  in  the  temples. 
They  admired  it  in  the  principal  works  of  art.  They 
ftudied  it  in  the  exercif -s  and  the  games.  They 
thought  to  pcrfeft  it  by  their  m.irriac^es.  They  offer- 
ed rewards  to  it  at  the  public  feftivals.  But  virtuous 
beauty  was  feldom  to  be  feen.  The.  modeii  women 
were  confined  to  their  own  apartments,  and  were 
vifited  only  by  their  huibands  and  nearefc  rdations* 
The  courtezans  offered  themfelv;  s  every  where  to 
view ;  and  their  beauty,  as  might  be  expefted,  ob- 
tained univerfal  homage. 

Society  only  can-  unfold  the  beau  ies  of  the  mlndo 
Modefl  women  were  excluded  from  it.  The  cour- 
tezans of  Atnens,  by  living  in  public,  and  converfmg 
freely  wi'h  all  ranks  of  people,  upon  all  manner  of 
iubjects,  acquired  by  degrees,  a  knowledge  of  hiltcry, 
of  philolbphy,  of  policy,  and  a  tafle  in  the  whole  cir- 
cle of  the  arts.  Their  ideas  were  more  extenfive 
and  various,  and  their  con verfation  was  more  fpright- 
ly  and  entert:iining,  than  any  thing  that  was  to  be 
found  among  the  virtuous  part  of  the  iex.  Hence 
their  houfes  became  the.  fchools  of  elegance.  The 
poets  and  the  painters  went  there  to  c.:tch  the  fleets- 
ing  forms  of  gracey  and  the  changeable  features  of 
ridicule  ;  the  muficians,  to  perf eft  the  delic?.cy  of 
harmony  ;  and  the  philofophers,  to  colleft  thofe  par- 
ticulars of  human  life,  wliich  had  hitherto  efcaped 
their  obfcrvation. 

The  houfe  of  Afpafia  was  the  refort  of  Socrates 
and  Perlcle?,  as  that  of  Ninon  was  of  St.  Evremont 
and  Cende.  They  acquired  from  ihole  fair  liber- 
tines talbe  and  politenefs,  and  they  gave  them  in  ex- 
change knov/ledge  and  reputation. 

Greece  was  governed  by  eloquent  men ;  and 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  21 

the  celebrated  courtezans,  having  an  influence  over 
thofe  orators,  muit  have  had  an  influence  on  public 
affairs.  There  was  not  one,  not  even  the  thundering, 
the  ir.flexible  Demouhenes,  lb  terrible  to  tyrants,  but 
vt?  :?d  to  their  fway.      Of  that  great  inafter 

ct  .  .  ce  it  has  been  iaid,  '^  What  he  had  been  a 
whole  year  in  erefting,  a  woman  overturned  in  a 
day."  That  influence  augmented  their  conieque^icc; 
and  their  talent  of  plealiug  increafed  with  the  occa- 
iions  of  exerting  it. 

The  laws  and  the  public  inflitutions,  indeed,  by 
authorizing  the  privacy  of  women,  fet  a  high  value 
on  the  lanaity  of  the  marriage  vow.  But  in  Athens, 
imagination,  fentiment,  liLxury,  the  tafte  in  arts  and 
pleaTures,  was  oppofite  to  the  laws.  The  courtezans, 
thercft  re,  may  be  faid  to  have  come  in  fupport  of  the 
manners. 

'I'here  was  no  check  upon  public  licentioufnefs  ;^ 
but  private  infidelity,  which  concerned  the  peace  of 
families,  was  punifh.  d  rs  a  crime.  By  a  ftrange  and 
perh-'ps  unequalie.i  iingularity,  the  men  were  cor- 
rupted, yet  the  domeilic  .nanners  were  pure.  It  feenas 
as  if  the  courtczin?  had  not  been  confidered  to  be- 
long to  iheir  lex  ;  an.^,  by  a  convention  to  which  the 
lawsaud  the  man  trs  beaded,  while  other  wcmea 
were  elUmated  mer  ly  by  t.  eir  virtues,  they  were  ef- 
timatcdonly  by  their  ace  :;mpli(h.ne  rs. 

'Ihclerwalons  will,  in  Tme  rneafure,  pxcount  for 
the  honours,  wi.ich  the  votaries  of  Venus  f  "^  ofcen  re- 
ceived in  Greece.  Otrerwife  we  Ihould  have  beea 
at  a  lofs  to  c^rxeive,  why  fix  or  feven  writers  had  ex- 
erted t.  eir  talents  to  celebrate  the  courtezans  of  A- 
thsns— why  three  great  painters  had  unifor.nly  de- 
voted their  pencils  to  repref^nt  them  on  canvafs — and 
why  fo  many  poets  rtad  ftr  ve  to  immr^rt-'lize  them 

in  ""     Ihould  1       ve  1  that  fo 

jii  men  h2  .  iety — that 

AfpaiiA  lia  :  at  ions  of  peace 

and  war—  of  gold  piaced 


22  SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX, 

between  the  fte.tues  of  two  kings  at  Delphos— that, 
after  death,  magnificent  tombs  had  been  erefted  to 
their  memory. 

"The  traveller/'  fays  a  Greek  writer,  "  who, 
approaching  to  Athens,  fees  on  the  iide  of  tnc  way  a 
monmnent  which  attracts  his  notice  at  a  diftance, 
will  imagine  that  it  is  the  tomb  of  Miltiades  or  Per- 
icles, or  of  fome  other  great  man,  who  has  done  hon- 
our  to  his  country  by  his  fervices.  He  advances,  he 
reads,  and  he  learns  that  it  is  a  courtezan  of  Athens 
w^ho  is  interred  with  fo  much  pomp/' 

Theopompus,  in  a  letter  to  Alexander  the  Great, 
{peaks  alfo  of  the  fame  monument  in  words  to  the 
following  effeft — ■"  Thus,  after  her  death,  is  a  prof- 
titute  honoured  ;  while  not  one  of  thofe  brave  war- 
riors who  fell  in  Afia,  fighting  for  you  and  for  the 
fafety  of  Greece,  has  fo  much  as  a  fcone  erefted  to 
his  mem.ory,  or  an  infcription  to  preferve  his  afhes 
from  inliilt." 

Such  was  the  homage  which  that  enthufiaftic 
people,  voluptuous  and  paffionate,  paid  to  beauty. 
More  guided  by  fentiment  than  by  reafon,  and  hav- 
ing laws  rather  than  principles,  they  bacifhed  their 
great  men,  honored  their  courtezans,  murdered  So- 
crates, permitted  themielves  to  be  governed  by  Af- 
pafia,  prelerved  inviolate  the  marriage  bed,  and.  pla- 
ced Ehrioe  in  the  temple  of  Apcllo  ! 


CHAP.  VIII. 

Of  the  Roman  Woiiien^ 


jnLMONG  the  Romans,  a  grave  affd  auflere  peo- 
pie,  who,  during  five  hundred  years,  v/ere  unac- 
quainted with  the  elegancies  and  the  pieafures  o^  hfe, 
and  who,  in  the  middle  of  furrows  and  field^.  of  bat- 
tie*  were  employed  in  tillage  or  in  war,  the  manners 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  23 

of  the  women  were  a  long  time  as  folemn  and  fevere 
as  thofe  of  the  men,  and  without  the  fmaliefi:  mix- 
ture of  corruption,  or  of  weaknefs. 

The  time  when  the  Roman  women  began  to  ap- 
pear in  public,  marks  a  particular  a^ra  in  hiftTry. 

in  the  infancy  of  the  city,  and  even  until  the 
nonqueft  of  Carthage,  fhut  up  in  their  houfejj,  where 
a  ilmple  and  ruftic  virtue  paid  every  thing  to  inftinft, 
and  nothing  to  el  gance— fo  nearly  allied  to  barbar- 
ifra,  as  only  to  know  what  it  was  to  be  wives  and 
mothers— chafte  without  apprehending  they  could  be 
othsrwife — tender  and  afF  ttionate,  before  they  had 
•learned  Ihs  meaning  of  the  words— occupied  in  du- 
ties, and  ignorant  that  ti^ere  were  other  plcafures  ; 
they  fpei^t  their  life  in  retiremenr,  in  dcmefcic  ojcon- 
omy,  in  r  urfiag  thair  children,  and  in  rearing  to  the 
Tepubl'c  a  nice  of  l.ibourerF,  or  of  iolciers. 

1  he  Roman  women,  for  many  ages,  were  ref- 
pefted  '  .ver  the  whole  world.  Tleir  viftorious  huf- 
banc^s  re-vifited  them  with  tranfport,  at  tneir  return 
from  battle.  They  laid  at  their  feet  the  fpoils  oi  the 
enemy,  and  endeared  themfelves  in  th  ir  eyes,  bv  the 
wounds  which  they  had  received  for  them  and  for 
the  Itate.  Thofe  warricrs  often  came  from  impofing 
Ci'-  '    up.^n  kings  ;  and  in  their  own  houfes  ac- 

c. .  an  honour  to  obey.     1q  vain  the  too  rigid 

laws  nad  made  them  the  arbiters  of  life  and  death. 
More  powerful  than  the  laws,  the  women  ruled  their 
judges.  In  vain  the  legillature,  forefeeing  the  wants 
which  exift  only  among  a  c."^rrupt  people,  permitted 
divorce.  'I'he  indulgence  of  the  polity  was  profcrib- 
ed  by  the  manner?. 

Such  wLis  the  influence  of  beauty  at  Rome  be- 
fore the  licentious  i* ':-*'  -'^ --:  '':\es  had  cor- 
rupt-d  both. 

'1'     ''   "  i^-3ao  no' leem  to  havepcfTef- 

fel  ti  wrirh  Piuf^.rch  has  praifed 

*'*  '^  women:  they  par- 

'f >; ;  or,  at  leaft,  thev 


24  SKETCHES  OF  thk  SEX, 

departed  lefs  from  its  charafter.  Their  firfl:  quality 
was  decency.  Every  one  knows  the  ftory  cf  Cato 
the  cenfor,  ivho  Jiahhed  a  B&man  Senator  for  kij/in^  his 
^wn  wife  in  the  prefcncc  of  his  daughter* 

To  thefe  aufiere  m?.nners,  t' e  R  man  women 
joined  an  enthufnftic  love  of  tr.eir  country,  which 
difcovered  itfelf  upon  many  great  cccaficns.  On  the 
dearh  of  Brutus,  they  all  cloathed  themfelves  in 
mourning.  In  the  time  of  Coriolanns  they  faved  the 
city.  That  incrnfed  warrior  v«  ho  hud  infulted  the 
fenate  and  tiie  priefts,  and  w'lo  was  fuperior  ev^n  to 
the  pride  of  pardoning,  could  not  r:  fift  the  te:irs  and 
entreaties  of  the  women,  Ihey  melted  his  obdurate 
heart*  The  fenate  decreed  them  public  thanks,  or- 
dered the  men  to  give  place  to  triem  upon  all  occa- 
iions,  caufed  an  altar  to  be  erecl-d  for  them  on  the 
fpot  where  the  mother  a  i  f^ftened  ^er  fon,  and  the 
wife  her  hulband  ;  and  the  fex  were  permitted  to  add 
another  ornament  t^  their  hea-  -dr<^fs. 

It  is  to  be  wifhed  tha^  our  modern  ladies  c  uld 
affign  as  go,^d  a  reafon  for'the  fize  of  their  caps. 

The  Roman  women  faved  the  city  a  fecond 
time,  when  befi  -ged  by  Brennus.  They  gave  up  aH 
their  gold  as  its  ranfom.  For  that  inli ancc  of  their 
generofity,  the  fenate  granted  them  the  honour  of 
having  funeral  orations  pronounced  in  the  roftrum,  in 
common  with  patriots  and  nerres. 

After  the  battle  of  Cmn^e,  w 'en  Rome  had  no 
o'her  treafures  ^ut  the  virtues  of  their  citizens,  the 
women  iacrificed  both  their  gold  and  their  jewels.  A 
new  decree  rewarded  their  7.e?l, 

Valerius  Maxim^ts,  who  lived  in  the  reign  cf  Ti- 
berius, informs  us  that,  in  the  fecond  triumvirate, 
the  three  aflaflinr,  who  governed  Rome,  tldrRing  af» 
ter  gold,  no  lefs  than  Uood.  and  having  already  prac*^ 
tifed  every  fpecies  of  r-^bbery,  and  worn  out  every' 
method  of  plunder^  refolved  to  tax  the  -women,  llie] 
impofeda  heavy  contribun'n  upon  each  of  theip. 
The  women  fought  an  orator  to  defea  J  their  caufe. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  2t; 

but  found  none.  Nobody  would  reafon  agalnft  thofe 
who  had  the  power  of  life  and  death.  The  daughter 
of  the  celebrated  Hortenfius  alone  appeared.  She 
revived  the  memory  of  her  father's  abilities,  and  fnp- 
ported  with  intrepidity  her  own  caufe,  and  that  of  her 
fex.    The  ruffians  bluflied,  and  revoked  their  orders. 

Horteniia  was  conduced  home  in  triumph,  and 
had  the  honour  of  having  given,  in  one  day,  an  ex- 
ample of  ccurnge  to  men,  a  pattern  of  eloquence  to 
vyomen,  and  a  leiTon  of  humanity  to  tyrants. 

But  the  ocrjL  of  the  talents  of  women  at  Rome  is 
to  be  found  under  the  emperors.  Society  was  then 
more  perfefted  by  opulence,  by  luxury,  by  the  ufe 
and  abufe  of  the  arts,  and  by  commerce.  Their  re- 
tirement was  then  lefs  (tricl ;  their  genius,  beii^g  more 
aftive,  was  more  exerted;  tkeir  heart  had  new 
wants ;  the  idea  of  reputation  Iprung  up  in  their 
minds ;  their  leifure  increafed  with  the  divifion  of 
employments. 

During  upwards  of  fix  hundred  years,  the  vlr^ 
tues  had  been  found  fufiicient  topleafe.  They  now 
found  it  neceflkry  to  call  in  xh^ ncamphjlments.  They 
were  defirous  to  join  admiration  to  eiieem,  *till  they 
learned  to  exceed  efteem  iti'elf.  For  in  all  countries, 
in  proportion  as  the  love  of  virtue  diminifhes,  we  find 
the  Icve  of  talents  to  increafe. 

A  thoufand  caufes  concurred  to  produce  this 

revolution  of  manners  among  the  Romans.    I'he 

Vc\?\  '  I'ty  of  ranks,  the  enormous  fortunes  of  in- 

l^i  ie  ri  'xule,aflixed  by  the  imperial  court  to 

m  ,  all  contributed  to  haften  the  period  of 

CCi 

'i  here  were  dill,  however,  fome  great  ?nd  vir- 
tuous characters  among  the  Roman  women.  Portia, 
the  daughter  of  Cato,  and  wife  of  Brutus,  in  the  con- 
{pyrr^  ---.intt  Cujlhr,  (hewed  herfelf  worthy  to  he 
ail  vith  the  firft  of  human  kind,  and  iruded 

\V'M  tuc  iate  of  empires.    After  the  battle  of  Philin- 
III 


26  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

pi,  (ke  would  neither  furvive  liberty  nor  Brutus,  but 

died  with  the  bold  intrepidity  of  Cato. 

The  example  of  Portia  was  followed  by  that  of 
Arria,  who  feeing  her  hufband  hefitaling  and  afraid 
to  die,  in  order  to  encourage  him,  pierced  her  own 
breaft,  and  delivered  to  him  the  dagger  with  a  fmile. 

The  name  of  Arria's  hufband  was  Paetus.  The 
manner  of  their  death  has  furnifhed  Martial  with  the 
fubjeft  of  an  elegant  epigram,  which  may  be  thus 
paraphrafed : 

'^  When  to  her  hufband  Arria  gave  the  fword, 

^'  Which  from  herchaft,  her  bleeding  breaft  Ihe  drew; 

''  Sh'^  faid,  My  P^tus^  this  I  do  not  fear  ; 

^'  But^  01  the  wound  that  muft  he  made  by  you  ! 

''  She  could  no  morer-but  en  her  Panus  ftill 

^''  She  fix'd  iier  feeble,  her  expirir.g  eyes  $ 

*''  And  when  (he  (aw  him  raife  the  pointed  fteel, 

^"  She  funk,  and  feeiii'd  to  (ay  Now  Arria  dies  !'* 

Paulinia  to:\  the  wife  of  Seneca,  caused  her  V(  ins 
to  be  opened  at  the  fame  tfine  with  her  huiband's ; 
but  being  forced  to  live,  during  the  few  years  which 
file  furvived  him,  'Mhe  bore  in  her  countenancej' 
fays  Tacitus,  '^  the  honourable  tefiimony  of  her  love, 
Ti /)^/^v?6/r,  which  proved  that  part  of  her  blood  had 
fympathetically  iflued  with  the  blood  of  her  (pcufe." 

The  fame  exalted  virtues  were  difplayed,  though 
in  a  cTHlerent  manner,  by  Agrippina,  the  wife  of  Ger- 
nranicus-;  who,  naturally  haughty  and  fenfnie,  after 
the  death  of  that  great  man,  buried  herfeif  in  re- 
tirement in  all  the  bb^m.  of  youth  ;  and  who,  nei- 
ther  bending  her  flat.linefs  under  Tiberius,  nor  al- 
lowing herCelf  to  be  corrupted  by  the  manners  of  her 
age~as  implacal:)le  in  her  hatred  to  the  tyrant,  as 
ihe  had  been  faithful  to  her  huiband— fpent  her  life 
in  lamenting  theone,  and  in  detefUug  the  other.  Nor 
fhould  the  celebrated  Epiniana  be  forgot,  whom  Vef- 
pafian  ought  to  have  admired,  but  whoiu  he  ib  bafc^ 
]y  put  to  death. 


SKETCHES  OF  rm  SEX.  27 

To  take  notice  of  all  the  celebrated  women  of  the 
^^plre,  wcul  \  much  txceed  the  bounds  of  the  pref- 
ect undertaking.  But  the  emprefs  Julia,  the  \yite  of 
Septimius  Severn  s,  poffelTed  a  fpecies  of  merit  fo  very 
different  from  any  of  thofe  already  mentioned,  as  to 
claim  part' cular  attention. 

Ihis  laJy  was  born  in  Syria,  and  the  daughter 
Li  a  pri.eft  of'the  fun.  It  was  predicted  that  fhs 
ihould  rife  to  ibvereign  dignity  ;  and  her  charafter 
''nlihed  the  prophecy. 

Julia,  while  on  the  throne,  loved,  or  pretended 
paffionateiy  to  love,  letters.  Either  from  tafte,from 
a  defire  to  inllruft  tierielf,  from  a  love  of  renown,  or 
pofiibly  from  all  thefe  together,  (he  fpent  her  life 
with  philofophers.  Her  rar.k  of  emprefs  would  not, 
perhaps,  have  been  fufficient  to  fubdue  thofe  bold 
{pints  ;  but  fhe  joined  to  that  the  mere  powerful  in- 
fluences of  wit  and  beautv.  Thefe  three  kinds  of 
empire  rendered  lefs  neceffary  to  her  that  which  con- 
fiils  only  in  art ;  and  which,  attentive  to  their  lades 
and  iheir  weakneiles,  governs  great  minds  by  little 
means. 

It  is  fa:d  that  fhe  was  a  philofopher.  Her  phi- 
lofophy,  however,  did  not  extend  fo  far  as  to  give 
chail'ty  to  her  manners.  Her  huiband,  who  did  not 
love  her,  valued  her  underftanding  fo  much,  that  he 
confulted  her  upon  all  occafions.  She  governed  ia 
the  fame  mr.nner  under  his  fon. 

Julia  was,  in  (h^rt,  an  emprefs  and  a  politician, 
occupied  at  the  fame  time  about  literature  and  affairs 
of  flate,  while  (he  mingled  iier  pleafures  freely  with 
both.  She  had  courtiers  for  her  lovers,  fchcir.rs  for 
her  friends,  and  philcfophers  for  her  counlellors.  Id 
the  midll  of  a  fcciety,  where  (lie  reigned  and  v^as  in- 
ftrufted,  Julia  arrived  at  the  highelt  Cilebrity;  bur 
as,  among  all  her  excelknrics,  we  find  not  ihofe  o^* 
her  fex,  the  virtues  of  a  woman,  our  admiration  h 
loft  in  blame.  In  her  lile  time  fhe  obtained  mojc 
praife  than  rcTpc^f :  kind  \\  (tcrity,  while  it  b;:s  dcLC 


'2S  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

juftice  to  her  talents  and  her  accomplifhments,  has 
agreed  to  deny  her  efteem. 

At  laft,  in  following  the  courfe  of  hiftory,  the 
famous  Zeaobia  preferits  herfelf :  fhe  was  worthy  to 
have  Deeaapupii  ofi>^^^^i?2?/x;  for  (he  knew  how  to 
v/rite,  as  v/eli  as  how  to  conquer.  When  (he  was 
afterward  unfortunate,  fhe  was  fo  with  dignity,  ^jhe 
confoled  herfelf  for  the  bis  of  a  throne,  and  the  plea- 
lures  of  grandeur,  with  the  fweets  of  lohtude  and 
the  jvyii  of  reafon. 


T. 


CHAP.  IX. 

Ldws  and  Cujloms  refpe&ing  the  Roman  Women, 


HE  Roman  women,  as  v/ell  as  the  Grecian, 

were  under  perpetual  guardianfhip  ;  and  were  not  at 
any  age,  nor  in  any  condition,  ever  trufted  with  the 
management  of  their  own  fortunes. 

Every  father  had  a  power  of  hfe  and  death  over 
his  own  daughters :  but  this  power  was  not  reftric- 
ted  to  dauf2;hters  only ;  it  extended  alfo  to  fons. 

The  Oppian  law  prohibited  women  from  having 
more  than  half  an  ounce  of  gold  employed  in  oma* 
menting  their  perfons,  from  wearing  clothes  of  divers 
colours,  and  from  riding  in  chariots,  either  in  the 
city,  or  a  thoufand  paces  round  it. 

They  were  llriftly  forbid  to  ufe  wine,  or  even 
to  have  in  their  polTeffion  the  key  of  any  place  where 
it  was  kept.  For  either  of  thefe  faults  they  were  lia- 
ble to  be  divorced  by  their  hufbnnds.  So  careful 
were  the  Romans  in  reftraining  their  women  from 
wine,  that  they  are  fuppofed  to  have  firft  introduced 
the  cuitom  of  fainting  their  female  relations  and  ac- 
quaintances, on  entei'ing  into  the  hovifeof  a  friend  or 
neighbor,  that  they  might  difcover  by  their  breath, 
whether  they  had  tafted  any  of  that  liquor. 

I'his  ftriftaefs,  however,  began  in  time  to  be  re- 


SKETCHES  OF  thh  SEX,  29 

laxcd  ;  until  at  lad,  luxury  becoming  too  ftrong;  for 
every  law,  the  women  indulged  themlelves  in  equal 
Hberties  with  the  men. 

But  fuch  was  not  the  ca(e  in  the  earlier  ages  of 
Rome.  Romulus  even  permitted  hufbands  to  kill 
their  wives,  if  they  found  them  drinking  wine.  And 
if  we  may  believe  Valerius  Maxim  us,  Jignatins  MeteU 
huy  having  detefted  his  wife  drinking  out  of  a  calk, 
aftualiy  made  ufe  of  this  permiffionj  and  was  acquit- 
ted by  Romulus. 

Fabius  Piftor  relates,  that  the  parents  of  a  Ro- 
man lady,  having  detected  her  picking  the  lock  of  a 
chell  which  contained  fome  wine,  fhut  her  up  and 
flarved  her  to  death. 

Women  were  liable  to  be  divorced  by  their  huf- 
bands almoft  at  pleafure,  provided  the  portion  was 
returned  which  they  liad  brought  along  with  them. 
They  were  alfo  liable  to  be  divorced  for  l)arrennels, 
which,  if  it  could  be  conftrued  into  a  fault,  was  at 
lealt  the  lUuIt  of  nature,  and  might  fometimes  be  that 
of  the  hulband. 

A  few  fnmptuary  laws,  a  fubordination  to  (he 
men,  and  a  total v/ant  of  authority,  do  not  ib  much 
afteft  the  fex,  as  to  be  cciJly  and  indelicately  treated 
by  their  hufbands. 

Such  a  treatment  is  touching  them  in  the  ten- 
dered part.  Such,  however,  we  have  realon  to  be- 
lieve, they  often  met  with  from  the  Romans,  who 
had  not  yet  learned,  -^.s  in  modern  times^  to  blend  the 
ri^idiiv  of  the  patriot,  and  rcughuefs  of  the  warrior, 
with  tfiat  foft  and  incfulging  behaviour,  fo  confpicu- 
ous  in  our  modej^.i  patri  ts  and  heroes. 

Hufbands  among  the  Romans  not  only  them- 
felves  behaved  roughly  to  their  v/ives,  but  even  Ibme- 
tiKies  permitted  their  fe-rvanfs  and  llaves  to  do  the 
fame.  The  principal  eunuch  of  Juflinian  the  Second, 
threatened  to  c-^allife  the  Emprefs,  his  matter's  wife, 
in  the  manner  that  children  are  chaitifcci  at  (Ihool,  it 
Ihe  did  not  obey  his  orders. 
Ill  2 


30  wSKErCHES  OF  THE  SEX. 

With  reg  irJ  to  the  private  diverfions  of  the  Ro 
man  ladies,  hiflory  is  iileat.  Their  public  ones  were 
iuch  as  were  common  to  both  lexes ;  as  bathing, 
tiieatrical  reprelentations,  horfe-races,  Ihows  of  wild 
f)earLS,  which  fought  againil  one  another,  and  fome- 
times  againfl  men,  whom  the  emp'r  rs,  in  the  plen- 
itude^ of  their  d.fpotic  power, ordered  to  engage  them. 
^  I'he  Romans,  of  both  fexes,  fpent  a  great  deal 
of  time  at  the  baths ;  which  at  firft,  perhaps,  were 
interv/oven  with  their  religion,  but  at  lad  were  only 
coniiiered  as  refine.nents  in  luxury.  They  were 
places  of  public  refort,  where  all  the  news  of  the 
times  were  to  be  heard,  where  people  met  with  their 
-icqaaiatancss  and  friends,  where  pubhc  libraries 
were  kept  for  fuch  as  chofe  to  read,  and  where  poets 
recited  their  works  to  fuch  as  hid  patience  to  hear. 

In  the  earlier  periods  of  Rome,  feparate  baths 
were  appropriatevl  to  each  fex.  Luxury  by  degrees 
getting  the  better  of  decency,  the  men  and  women  at 
ialt  bathed  promifcuoufly  t.^'g^ther..  Though  this  in- 
decent manner  of  bathing  was  prohibited  by  the  em- 
peror A  Irian  ;  yet,  in  al'hort  time,  inclination  over- 
came the  prohibition  ',  and,  in  fpit(?  of  every  effort, 
promircuous  bathing  continued  until  the  time  of  Con- 
fiantine,  who,  by  the  coercive  force  of  the  legiilativs 
authority,  and  the  rewards  and  terrors  of  the  Chrif- 
tiaa  religion,  put  a  iiaal  liop  to  it. 


=:2S^^= 


CHAP.  X. 

O/  the  B.Jc3s^  of  Chriflianlty  en  the  Manners  of  Womcn^ 

i  HILOoOPIIY  had  no  fixed  principles  for  wo- 
men. Tne  religion  of  antiquity  was  only  a  kind  of 
Ikcred  p^icy,  which  had  rather  ceremonies  th  n  pre- 
cepts-   The  anci<?nts  honored  their  go.ls  as  we  hon- 


SKETCHK3  of  the  SEX.  ^i 

our  our  great  men  :  they  offered  them  incsnfe,  and 
expefted  their  prot:(ftion  in  exchange.  The  gods 
.re  their  guardians,  not  their  legiflators. 

Chriftianity  on  the  other  hand,  was  a  legiflation : 
it  impofed  laws  for  the  regulation  of  manners ;  it 
Itrengthened  the  marriage  knot ;  to  the  pohtical  it 
added  a  iacred  tie,  and  placed  the  matrimonial  en- 
gagements under  the  jurildiclion  of  Heaven. 

Not  fatisfied  with  regulating  the  adions,  Chrif- 
tianity extended  its  empire  even  to  the  thoughts. 
Above  all,  it  combated  the  ierifes.  It  waged  war 
even  with  inch  inanim:ne  objt-fts  as  might  be  the  ob- 
jefts  of  reduction,  or  were  the  means  of  ieduftion. 
in  a  word,  routing  vice  i:i  her  fecret  ceil,  it  made  her 
become  her  o'^a  tormentor. 

The  legiilation  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans  re- 
.-rred  the  motive  of  every  aftion  to  the  political  in- 
t  reftof  foclety.  But  the  new  and  facred  Icgillarion, 
infpiring  only  contempt  for  this  world,  referred  all 
things  to  a  future  and  very  different  iiate  of  exiitence. 

The  detachment  of  the  fenfes,  the  reign  of  the 

foul,  and  an  ii"iexprelli:>ly  fublime  and  iupernatural 

fomething,  which  blendcvi  itfclf  wit.i  both,  becam.e 

the  dcftnne  of  a  body  of  the  people.  Hence  the  vow 

continence,  and  the  confjcnition  of  celibacy. 

Life  was  a  combat.  The  fanftity  of  the  man- 
ners threw  a  veil  over  nature  and  over  fociety  ; 
Beauty  was  afraid  to  pleafe ;  Valor  dropt  his  Ipear ; 
the  p.iffions  were  taug.u  to  fubmit ;  the  feverity  of 
the  ijui  '.  --  '>• '  '---\-  ^  -  ^-:  the  lacrifices  of  the 
feIlle^^ 

Thevvo:v.3n,  v/nj  g.neruiiy  poffcfs  a  lively  im- 
agination, and  a  warm  heart,  devoted  ihemlelvcs  to 
virtue??,  which  were  as  flattering  as  they  were  diOi- 
cult,  and  no  \e[f>  elevated  than  aullere. 

Th'    '  %  of  chriftianity  were  taught  to  love 

atul  ecu  ;  .  .'■  another,  Hke  children  of  the  fame 
family.  In  confeciuence  of  this  doilrine,  the  more 
tLTi^lerfeXj'convcrtu^g  to  pity  thefenfib^l'^^'  '^^^'  rrjtnr.* 


32  SKETCHES  OP  the  SEX. 

devoted  their  lives  to  the  farvice  of  indigence  and  dif- 
trefs.  Delicacy  learned  to  overcome  dlfguft.  The 
tears  of  pity  were  feen  to  flow  in  the  huts  of  mlfery, 
and  in  the  cells  of  dilbafe,  with  the  friendly  fympathy 
of  a  fifter. 

The  perfecutions  which  arofe  in  the  empire,  foon 
after  the  introdutlion  of  chriftianity,  afFordea  that 
religion  a  new  opportunity  of  difcovering  its  efiicacy. 
To  preferve  the  faith,  it  v/as  often  necenary  to  fuffer 
imprifonment,  banifhraent,  and  death.  Courage  thea 
became  neceffary. 

There  is  a  deliberate  couragCr  which  is  the  refult 
of  reafon,  and  which  is  equally  bold  and  calm  :  it  is 
the  courage  of  philofophers  and  of  heroes.  There  is 
a  courage  which  fprings  from  the  imagination,  which 
is  ardent  and  precipitate  ;  fuch  is  moft  commonly  the 
courage  of  martyrs,  or  religious  courage. 

The  courage  of  the  Chriftian  women  was  foun* 
ded  upon  the  nobleft  motives.  Animated  by  the 
glorious  hope  of  immortality,  they  embraced  flames 
and  gibbets,  and  offered  their  delicate  and  feeble 
bodies  to  the  moft  excruciating  tortures. 

This  revolution  in  the  ideas,  and  in  the  man- 
ners, was  followed  by  another  in  the  writings.  Such 
as  made  women  their  fubjeft  became  as  auitere  and 
feraphic  as  they. 

Almoft  all  the  doftors  of  thofe  times,  raifed  by 
the  church  bolh  to  the  rank  of  orators  and  of  faints, 
emulated  each  other  in  praifing  the  Chriftian  women. 
But  he  who  fpeuks  of  them  with  moft  eloqdence  and 
with  moft  zeal,  is  Saint  Jerome  ;  who,  born  with  a 
foul  of  fire,  fpent  tv/enty-four  years,  in  writing,  ia 
combating,  and  in  conquering  himfelf. 

The  manners  of  this  faint  were  probably  more 
fevere  than  his  thoughts.  He  had  a  number  of  il- 
luftrious  women  at  Rome  among  his  difciples.  Thus 
furrounded  with  beauty,  though  he  efcaped  weak- 
nefs,  yet  he  was  not  able  to  efcape  calumny.  At 
laft,  flying  from  the  world,  from  women,  and  from 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  r^ 

himfelf,  he  retired  to  Paleftiae  ;  where  all  that  he 
had  fled  from  ttill  pnrfued  him.  tormented  him  under 
the  penitential  lackloth,  and,  in  the  middle  of  folita- 
ry  defarrs,  re-echoed  in  his  ears  the  tumult  of  Rome. 
"^  Such  was  Saint  Jerome,  the  mod  eloquent  pane- 
gyrifl  of  the  Chriftian  women  of  the  four  h  centurv. 
That  warm  and  pious  writer,  though  generally  harm 
-^•^d  obfcure,  foftenshis  ftvle,  in  athoufandplaces,to 
life  a  great  number  of  Roman  women,  who  at  the 
L.:\pitol,  had  embraced  chrifiianity,  and  fcudied  in 
Rome  the  language  of  the  Hebrews,  that  they  might 
read  and  underltand  the  books  of  Mofes. 


5=^1:22? 


CHAP.  XL 

Of  JVonien  in  Savage  Life, 

IVJl  AN,  la  a  ftate  of  barbarity,  equally  cruel  and 
indolent,  aftive  by  necefTity,  but  naturally  inclined  to 
repofe,  is  acquainted  with  little  more  than  the  phyfi- 
cal  effects  of  love ;  and,  having  none  of  thofe  moral 
ideas  which  only  can  foften  the  empire  of  force,  he 
is  led  to  confider  it  as  his  fupreme  law,  fubjefting  to 
his  defpotifm  thofe  whom  reafon  had  made  his  equals, 
but  wliofe  imbecility  betrayed  them  to  his  flrength. 

Call  in  the  lap  of  naked  nature,  and  expofed  to 

every  hardfnip,  the  forms  of  women,  in  favage  life, 

are  but  li;tle  engaging.    With  nothing  thtt  deferves 

the  namJ'v^f  culture,  their  latent  qualities,  if  they  have 

"  ^  the  diamond,  while  inclofed  in  the  rough 

hie  of  fhewinj?  ?.ny  luftre.    Thus  deftitute 

can  ex':ite  love,  or  ac- 

i       luty  to  charm,  or  art  to 

I  lie  tyrant  man  ;  they  are  by  him  deftined  to 

/      -   a  every  mean  and  fervile  om^e.    In  this  the 

American  ana  other  favage  womerj  differ  widely  from 

f V.  r,.  rr  \  r. ,   ^^^,.^  ;r  ^j^^^^  ^^  delUtute  of  the  qual- 


34     *         SKETCHES  OF  the   SEX. 
Afications  neceffary  for  gaming  efteem,  have  beaiity-p 
orilaments,  and  the  art  of  exciting  iove. 

in  civilized  countries  a  woman  acquires  fome 
power  by  beii^g  the  mother  of  a  numerous  family, 
who  obey  her  maternal  authority,  and  defend  her 
honour  and  her  hfe.  But,  even  as  a  mother,  a  fe- 
male favage  h^s  not  much  advantage.  Her  chil- 
dren, daily  accuftomed  to  fee  their  father  treat  hei 
nearly  as  a  Have,  foon  begin  to  imitate  his  example, 
and  either  pay  little  regard  to  her  authority,  or  fhake 
it  off  altogether. 

Of  this  the  Hottentot -boys  afford  a  remarkable 
proof.  They  are  brought  up  by  the  women,  till  they 
are  about  fourteen  years  of  age.  Then,  with  fever- 
ai  ceremonies,  they  are  initiated  into  the  fociety  of 
men.  After  this  initiation  is  over,  it  is  reckoned 
manly  for  a  b3y  to  take  the  earlieft  opportunity  of 
returning  to  the  hut  of  his  mother,  and  beating  her  in 
the  moft  barbarous  manner,  to  fhow  that  he  is  now 
out  of  her  jurildift'on.  Should  the  mother  complain 
to  the  men,  they  wouM  only  applaud  the  boy,  for 
fnewing  lo  laudable  a  contempt  for  the  fociety  and 
authority  of  women. 

*'  Nothing,''  fays  Profeflbr  Miller,  fpeaking  of 
the  women  of  barbarous  nations,  "  can  exceed  the 
dependence  and  fubjeftion  in  which  they  are  kept,  or 
the  toil  and  drudgery  which  they  are  obliged  to  un- 
dergo. The  hulband,  when  he  is  not  engaged  in 
fome  warlike  exercife,  indulges  himfelf  in  idlenef?, 
and  devolves  upon  his  wife  the  whole  burden  of  his 
domeftic  atiairs.  He  difdains  to  afTift  her'^-n  any  of 
thofe  fervile  employments.  She  fleeps  in  a  different 
bed,  and  is  feiiom  permitted  to  have  any  converfa- 
tion  or  correlpondence  with  him." 

In  the  BraziU',  the  females  are  obliged  to  follow 
their  hufbands  to  war,  to  fupply  the  place  of  beails 
of  burden,  and  to  carry  on  their  backs  ^ their  chil- 
dren, provifuns,  hammocks,  and  every  thing  wanted 
in  the  field. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  35 

In  the  Ifthmus  of  Darien,  they  are  fent  along 
wirh  warriors  and  travellers,  as  we  do  baggage 
horfes.  Even  their  Queen  appeared  before  tome 
Eiigiifh  gentlemen,  carrying  her  fucking  child  wrapt 
ina  red  blanke'. 

The  women  amorg  the  Indians  of  America  are 
what  the  Helots  Were  aincng  the  Spartans,  a  van- 
quifhed  people  obliged  to  toil  for  their  conquerors. 
Hencr-  on  the  banks  of  the  Oraonoko  we  have  heard 
of  mr  t^ers  flaying  their  daughters  out  of  compafTion, 
and  fmothcring  them  in  the  hour  of  their  birth, 
TTiey  confi  er  this  barbarous  pity  as  a  virtue. 

Father  Jcfeph  Guinilh,  reproving  one  of  them 
for  this  inbunian  crime,  received  th^  following  an- 
fwer : — "  I  wi(h  to  God,  Father,  I  wifh  to  God,  that 
my  mother  hid,  by  my  death,  prevented  the  mani- 
fold diftr-fi'es  I  have  endured,  and  have  yet  to  en- 
dure as  Icng  as  I  live.  Had  Ihe  kindly  Hifled  me  in 
ray  birth,  1  fhculd  not  have  felt  the  psin  of  death, 
nor  the  numlerlefs  other  pains  to  wh<:h  life  has  iub- 
jecled  me.  Confidrr,  Father,  cur  deplorable  condi- 
tion. Our  hufbands  go  to  hunt  w'th  their  bows  and 
arrows,  and  trouble  themf  Ives  no  farther:  we  are 
dragged  along  with  ore  infant  at  our  breaft,  and 
another  in  a  bafket.  They  return  in  the  evening 
withr  ut  any  burden  :  we  return  with  the  burden  of 
our  children.  Though  tired  with  I  rg  walking,  we 
are  not^allowed  to  deep,  but  mift  labor  the  whole 
night,  in  grinding  ma'ze  to  make  chica  for  them. 
They  get  drunk,  and  in  theirJrunkennels  beat  us,draw 
us  by  the  hair  of  the  head,  and  iread  us  und^er  foot. 
What  then  have  we  to  comfort  us  for  flavcry,  per- 
haps  of  twenty  years  ?— A  ycurg  wife  is  brought 
upon  us  and  permitted  to  pbufe  us  and  our  children. 
Can  human  na*.  ure  endure  furh  tynnny  ?  What  kind- 
ncfs  can  we  (hew  to  our  female  children,  equal  to 
that  of relievirg  them  from  fuch  fervitude,  more  bit- 
-ra  thoufand  times  than  death?  I  repeat  again, 
culd  to  God  my  mother  had  put  me  under  grc^nd, 
ti;e  moment  1  was  born.'* 


36  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

If  the  great  outlines  of  this  comphiat  be  true, 
they  fully  evince  the  deplorable  condition  of  favage 
women  ;  and  that  they  are  propable,  fimilar  inllan- 
ces  among  barbarous  nations  will  not  permit  us  to 
doubt. 

"The  men/'  fays  Commodore  Byron,  in  his 
account  of  the  inhabitants  of  South  America,  "  ex- 
ercife  a  moft  defpotic  authority  over  their  wives, 
whom,  they  confider  in  the  fame  view  they  do  any 
other  part  of  their  pr  jperty,  and  difpofe  of  them  ac- 
cordingly. Even  their  common  treatment  of  them 
is  cruel.  For,  though  the  toil  and  hazard  of  procur- 
ing food  lies  entirely  on  the  women,  yet  they  are 
not  fuftered  to  touch  any  part  of  it,  until  tne  huf- 
band  is  fatisfied ;  and  then  he  affigns  them  their  por- 
tion,  which  is  generally  very  fcaoty,  and  fuch  as  he 
has  n" t  a  ftomach  for  himfelf.'' 

The  Greenlanders,  who  live  moftly  upon  feals, 
think  it  fufficient  to  catch  and  bring  them  on  fhore  ; 
and  would  almoft  rather  fubmit  to  ftarve,  than  affift 
their  women  in  Ikinning,  dreffing,  or  dragging  the 
cumbrous  animals  home  to  their  huts. 

In  fome  parts  of  America,  when  the  men  kill 
any  game  in  the  woods,  they  lav  it  at  the  root  of  a 
tree,  fix  a  mark  there,  and  travelling  until  they  arrive 
£t  their  habitation,  fend  their  women  to  fetch  it ;  a 
tall<:  which theii;cwn  lazinefs  and  pride  equally  forbid. 

Among  many  of  the  tribes  of  wandering  Arabs, 
the  women  are  not  only  obliged  to  do  every  domeftic 
and  every  rural  work,  but  alfo  to  feed,  to  drels,  and 
faddle  the  horfes,  for  the  ufe  of  their  hulbands. 

The  Moorifh  v/omen,  befides  doing  all  the  fame 
kinds  of  drudgery,  are  alfo  obliged  to  cultivate  the 
fields,  v/hile  their  hufbands  Hand  idle  fpeftators  of 
the  toil,  or  fleep  inglorious  beneath  a  neighbouring 
(hade.  t 

In  Madura  the  hufband  generally  fpeaks  to  his 
v/ife  in  the  moft  imperious  tone  ;  while  fhe  with  fear 
and  trembling  approaches  him,  waits  upon  him  while 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  37 

at  meals,  and  prjnouaces  not  his  name,  but  with  t'  e 
additi©*:!  of  every  dig^if^Mng  title  fli:?  can  devife.  la 
Terurn  for  all  this  fuoJiillion,  he  fr^^quently  I^eats  and 
abufes  her  in  the  moft  barbarous  manner.  Being 
alkjd  the  reafon  of  ^Uch  a  behaviour,  one  of  them  aa- 
fwered,  "A«  our  wives  are  fo  much  our  inferiors* 
why  fh:uld  we  allow  them  to  eat  and  drink  with  usi 
Wny  fho'uld  they  not  ferve  us  with  whatever  we  call 
for,  an  i  afterwards  fit  down  and  eat  up  what  we 
leave  ?  If  they  commit  faults,  why  fhould  they  not 
fufFer  correftion  ?  It  is  their  bufinefs  only  to  bring  up 
cur  children,  pound  cur  rice,  make  our  oil,  and  do 
every  other  kind  of  drudgery,  purpofes  to  which  only 
their  low  and  inferior  natures  are  adapted/' 

In  feveral  parts  of  America  women  are  not  fuf. 
fered  to  enter  into  their  temples,  or  join  in  their  re- 
ligious aflemblies.  In  the  houles  where  the  chiefs 
meet  to  confult  on  the  aiFairs  of  Hate,  they  are  only 
permitted  to  enter  and  feat  themfelves  on  the  floor 
on  each  fide  of  the  p'fi^'age. 

The  Circaliian  cullom  of  breediiig  yourg  glr!'^, 
on  purpofe  to  be  f:idin  the  public  market  to  the 
higheft  hidder,  is  generally  known.  Perhaps,  how* 
ever,  up:n  minute  examination,  we  fh ill  {mi  \\r.t 
women  are,  in  fotne  degree,  bought  and  fold  in  ev.i  / 
countrj^  whether  favage  or  civilized. 

Tne  f. blowing  remark  may  very  proprrly  con- 
clude this  chapter:  As,  among  favages,  we  almcft 
c^nftantly  find  women  condemned  toeverv  fpeciesof 
flavifh  drudgery;  fo  we  as  conftantly  find  them 
emerging  from  this  ftate,  in  the  fame  prop  riion  as 
we  find  the  men  emerging  from  ignorance  and  brutal- 
ity. The  rank,  therefore,  and  condition  in  which 
we  find  women  io  any  country,  mark  out  to  us  with 
the  greateft  precifioi  theexaft  point  in  th.e  icale  of  ci-- 
vil  fociety,  to  which  the  people  of  fuch  counirv  have 
arrived.^  And,  indeed,  were  their  hilto'v  filer  too 
c\(:  '  r  fubje£t,  and  only  mentioned  the  manner 
iu     -    ..  aiey  treated  their  women,  we  (hould  from 

IV 


38  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

thence  be  enabled  to  form  a  tolerable  judgment  of 

the  barbarity  or  culture  of  their  manners. 


r^^^;^^ 


T. 


CHAP.  Xll. 

Of  the  Eqjlern  Wonwfi. 


___  HE  women  of  the  Eaft  have,  in  general,  always 
exhibited  the  fame  appearance.  Their  manners,  cuf- 
f oms,  and  fafhions,  unalterable  like  their  rocks,  have 
flood  the  teft  of  many  revolving  ages.  Though  ^he 
kingdoms  of  their  country  have  often  changed  maf- 
rers,  though  they  have  fubmitted  to  the  arms  of  al- 
moii:  every  invader,  yet  the  laws  by  which  their  fex 
are  governed  and  enflaved,  have  never  been  rcvifed 
nor  amerded. 

Had  the  manners  and  cuftoms  of  the  Afiatic  wo- 
men been  fubjec):  to  the  fame  changes  as  they  are  in 
Eurcp3,  we  might  have  expected  the  fame  changes  in 
the  fentiiiicnts  and  writings  of  their  men.  But,  as 
th^s  is  not  the  cafe,  we  have  reafon  to  prefurae  that 
the  fentinients  entertained  by  Solomon,  by  the  apoc- 
ryphal writers,  and  by  the  ancient  Bramins,  are  the 
fentiinevits  of  this  day. 

Tlioiigh  the  confinement  of  women  be  an  un- 
lawful exer:ion  of  fuperior  power,  yet  it  affords  a 
proof  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Ea'it  are  advanced 
fomie  degrees  far' her  in  civiiiy^tion  than  mere  fava- 
ges,  who  have  hardly  any  love,  and  confequently  as 
iittrejea^oufy. 

Tnis  confinement  is  not  very  rigid  in  the  empire 
rf  the  Mcgu^.  It  is,  perhaps,  iefs  lb  in  China,  and 
in  J  =pan  hardly  exifts. 

'I^hcugh  women  are  confined  in  theTurkifh  em- 
p're,  they  experier.ce  every  other  indulgence.  They 
rrc  allowed,  at  dated  times,  to  go  to  the  public 
luths ;  their  apartments  are  richly,  if  not  elegantly 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  39 

t  urnifned  ;  they  have  a  train  of  female  Haves  to  ferve 
and  ainufe  them  ;  and  their  perfons  are  adorned  with 
evcrv  collly  ornament  which  their  fathers  or  huf- 
bands  can  adord. 

Notwithlhndlng  the  ftrictnefs  of  confinement  in 
Perfia,  their  women  are  treated  with  leveral  indul- 
gences. They  are  allowed  a  variety  of  precious  li- 
quors, of  coltly  perfumes,  and  beautiful  flaves :  their 
apartments  are  furnilhed  with  the  mofl  elegant  hang- 
ings and  carpets  ;  their  perfons  ornamentei  with  th2 
fineil  filks,  and  even  loaded  with  the  fparkling  jew- 
els of  the  Eart.  But  all  thefe  trappings,  however  el- 
egant, or  however  gilded,  are. only  like  the  golden 
chains  fometimes  made  ufe  of  to  bhid  a  royal  prilbner. 

Solomon  had  a  great  number  of  queens  andvon- 
cubiaes ;  but  a  petty  Hindoo  chief  has  been  knowu 
to  have  two  thoufand  women  confined  within  the 
walls  of  his  harem,  and  appropriated  entirely  to  his 
pleafure.  Nothing  lefs  than  unlimited  power  in  the 
hulbind  is  able  to  reftrain  women  fo  confmed,  from 
the  utmoft  diforder  and  coafufion.  They  m.ay  repine 
in  facrer,  but  they  mull  clothe  their  features  with 
cheerfulnefs  when  their  lord  appears.  Contumacy 
draws  down  on  them  immediate  punifhment :  they 
are  degraded,  chaflifed,  divorced,  fhut  up  in  dark 
dungeons,  and  fometimes  put  to  death. 

Thsir  perfons,  however,  are  fo  facred,  that  they 
raufc  net  in  the  leaR  be  violated,  nor  even  looked  at^ 
by  any  one  but  their  hulbanis.  This  female  privil- 
ege has  given  an  opportunity  of  executuig  ma:ay  con- 
fpiracies.  Warriors^  in  fuch  vehicles  as  are  ufually 
employed  to  carry  women,  have  been  often  convey- 
ed, without  examination,  into  the  apirtmcnts  of  the 
^reat ;  from  whence,  inftead  of  iflbiug  forth  in  tiie 
Imiles  of  beauty,  they  have  rufhed  out  in  rhe  terror 
of  arms,  and  hid  tne  tyrants  at  their  feet. 

No  Rranger  is  ever  iiUowed  to  fee  the  women  of 
Hind  jilan,  nor  can  even  brothers  vifit  their  filters  in 
private. .  To  .be  coafcicua  of  the  exiltence  of  a  man's 


.0  SKETCHES   OF   THE   SEX; 

wives  feems  a  crime  ;  and  he  looks  i'urly  and  offend- 
ed,  if  their  h:alth  is  inquired  after,  la  every  coun- 
a-y,  hoviOi'  coniifts  in  fomething  up.n  which  the  pof- 
(cltr  lets  die  higheft  value.  This,  xv'^a  the  Hindoo, 
'aityofhis  wives;  a  point  ukhout  whicli 
... .  ;u..  net  live. 

In  the  midtl  of  daughter  and  devaftation,  tlirrogh- 
out  ail  the  Eaft,  the  harem  is  afanftuary.  Ruffians, 
covered  with  the  blood  of  a  huiband,  (lirink  back  w  ilk 
veneration  froui  the  iccret  apartment  of  his  wives* 

At  Conftantinople,  when  the  fultan  lends  an  or- 
der to  ftrangle  a  ftate-criminal,  and  feize  on  his  ef- 
fefts,  the  officers  who  execute  it  enter  not  into  the 
harem,  nor  touch  any  thing  belonging  to  the  women. 

Mr.  Pope  is  very  far  from  doing  juflice  to  the 
fair  fex,  when  he  fays — 

"  Moft  women  have  no  charaftcr  at  all." 

The  caar?.fter,  however,  of  the  Afiatic  ladies  cannot 
be  eafiiy  afcertained.  The  narrow  and  Umitedipherc 
in  which  they  move,  almoft  eniirely  divefts  them  of 
every  charafteriliic  diiWncfion  w4iich  arifes  from  lib- 
erty and  fociety.  Shut  up  for  ever  in  impenetrable 
harems,  they  can  hardly  be  called  creatures  of  the 
world,  having  no  intercourfe  with  it,  and  no  ufe  for 
the  fecial  and  oeconomical  virtues  which  adorn  its 
citizens.  Frugality  and  induflry  are  entirely  out  of 
their  power,  f  o  the  joys  of  friendfhip  they  are,  per- 
haps,  entire  ftrangers.  The  men  treat  them  in  fuch 
a  manner,  that  it  is  impoffible  they  can  efleem  them. 
'J'he  women  are  their  conftant  rivals.  As  they  are 
not  allowed  to  attend  public  worfhip,  they  can  have 
no  other  religion  than  the  filent  adoration  of  the 
heart.  With  refped  to  chaftity,  the  manner  in 
which  they  are  difpcfed  of  to  their  huibands,  and  the 
treatment  they  meet  with  from  them,  are  the  moft 
unlikely  methods  in  the  world  to  make  them  famous 
for  that  virtue. 

1  iiofe  females  who  are  the  leaft  expofed  to  fe^l 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  ^x 

the  oppreiTive  eTefts  of  defpotlfm,  employ  thetnfelvts 
in  a  maimer  well  aiipted  to  the  lex.  To  the  womeo 
of  Hiadollaa  we  owe  a  great  part  of  thofe  works  of 
tade,  fo  elegmtly  ex^carei  on  the  manufadtures  of 
the  Eail ;  the  beautiful  colorings  and  exquifite  de- 
Cgaings  of  th^^ir  printed  cotteiis;  all  the  embroidery, 
and  a  part  of  that  fillagree  work,  which  fo  much  ex- 
ceeds any  thing  in  Europe.  The  deficiency  of  tafte, 
therefore,  withr  which  we  fo  commonly  charge  them,^ 
does  not  feem  to  be  fo  much  a  defeft  of  nature,  as  or 
education.  Brought  up  in  luxurious  indolence,  ex- 
cluded from  all  the  bufy  fcenes  of  hfe,  and,  like  chil- 
*  dren,  provided  with  all  thofe  things,  the  acquifition  of 
which  calls  forth  the  powers  of  the  mind  and  body, 
they  feldom  have  any  motive  to  exert  themfelvesj 
but,  when  fuch  a  motive  ex-ifts,  they  have  often  ex- 
'  'bited  the  moft  convincing  proofs  of  iheir  ability. 

Every  Turkifh  feraglio  and  harem  has  a  garden 
adjoining  to  it,  and  in  the  middle  of  this  garden  a 
large  room,  more  or  lefs  decorated,  according  to  the 
wealth  of  the  proprietor.  Here  the  ladies  fpend  moft 
of  their  time,  with  their  attendant  nymphs  around 
em,  employed  at  their  mufic,  embroidery,  ordoom. 

la  thefe  retreats,  perhaps,  they  find  more  real  plea- 
fureand  enjoyment,  than  in  the  unbounded  freedom 
of  Europe,  where  love,  intereft,  and  ambition  foof* 
ten  deftroy  their  peace  ;  and  where  Scandal,  with  her 
envenomed  fhafts,  too  often  ttrikes  equally  at  guilt 
and  innocence. 

It  has  long  been  a  cuftom  among  the  grandees  of 
Afia,  to  entertain  ftory-tellers  of  both  fexes,  who  like 
the  tarc^s  of  ancient  Europe,  divert  them  with  tales, 
and  little  hiftories,  mofUy  on  the  fubjeft  of  bravery 
and  love.  Theie  often  amule  the  women,  and  be- 
guile  the  cheerlefs  hours  of  the  harem,  by  calling  up 
images  to  their  minds,  which  their  eyes  are  for  ever 
'  :b;irred  from  feeing. 

All  their  other  amuferaents.  as  well  as  this^  are 
iclently  voluptuous.    They  Ipend  a  great  part  of 

IV  2 


4^  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

their  time  in  lolling  on  lilken  Ibfas  ;  while  a  train  of 

female  flaves,  fcarcely  leis  voluptuous,  attend  tofmg 

to  them,  to  fan  them,  and  to  rub  their  bodies ;  an  ex- 

€rciie  which  the  Eafterns  enjoy  with  a  fort  of  placid 

e.:iiacy,as  it  promotes  the  circulation  of  their  languid 

biood.. 

They  bathe  themfelves  in  rofe-water,  and  other 
baths,  prepared  with  the  precious  odours  of  the  EaiL 
They  perfume  themfelves  wi^h  coftlr  elTences,  and 
adorn  their  perfons,  that  they  may  pleafe  the  tyrant 
with  whom  they  are  obhged  to  live. 

jA  t  the  court  of  the  Mogul,  women  are  frequent-- 
ly  admitted  into  a  gallery,  with  a  curtain  before  them^ 
through'  which,  without  being  feen,  they  can  fee  and 
hear  what  palies.  It  has  fometimes  happened  that 
the  throne  has  been  occupied  by  a  woman,  who  nev- 
er appearing;  in  open  court,  iiTue6  her  imperial,  man- 
dates from  baiiind  this  curtain,  like  an  invifible  being, 
producing  the  greateft  eiitcl:s,  while  the  caufeof  them 
"wu  wrapt  in  darknefs  and  oblcurity. 


CHAP.  XIII.. 

Of  the  CImcfe  Women* 


V^^  ai^-  tlie  other  Afiatics,  the  Chinefe  have,  per- 
haps, the  bell  title  to  modefty.  Even  the  men  wrap 
thcmfelvcs  clofely  up  in  their  garments,  and  reckon  it 
irdecent  to  diCcover  ituy  more  of  their  arms  and  I'^gs 
than  is  neceffi^ry.  The  women,  ftill  more  clofely 
wrapped  up,  never  difcover  a  naked  hand  even  to  their 
neartit  relations,  if  they  can  poffibly  avcid  it.  Every 
pan  of  their  drrfs,  every  part  eft  heir  behavior  is  cal- 
culated to  prefen^e  decency,  and  infpire  refpeft. 
And,  what  adds  the  greatest:  hiilre  to  their  charms, 
is  that  uncommon  modePiy  which. appears  ia  every 
look,  and  in  every  aftioa. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  43 

Charmed,  no  doubt,  with  lb  engaging  a  deporU 
mcnt,  the  men  behave  to  them  in  a  rec  procal  man- 
ner. And,  that  their  virtue  may  not  be  contamina- 
ted by  tne  neighborhood  of  vice,  thefegiflature  takes 
care  that  no  proltitutes  Ihall  lodge  within  the  walk 
of  any  of  the  great  cities  of  China. 

bome  however  iufpeft  whether  this  appearance 
of  modefty  be  any  thing  eife  than  the  cuftom  of  the 
country  ;  and  allege  that,  notwithftanding  fo  much 
fecming  decency  and  decorum,  they  have  their  pe- 
culiar modes  of  intriguing,  and  embrace  every  poili- 
ble  opp:  rtuinty  of  putting  them  in  praftice  ^  and 
that,  in  thefe  intrigues,  they  frequently  fcruple  not  to 
ftab  the  paramour  they  had  invited  to  their  arms,  as 
the  furett  method  of  preventing  deteftion  and  lofs  of 
character.  Such  relations,  however,  are  EOt  to  be 
fcuud  in  any  of  our  modern  travellers,  whofe  verac- 
ity is  moft  to  be  depended  on.  A  few  perhaps,  of 
the  molt  flagitious  may  b^  guilty  of  fuch  enormous 
(xim^s. 

CHAP.  XIV. 
Cf  the  Wives  of  the  Indian  Priejfs. 

X  HE  Bramins,  or  priefts  of  India,  though,  like 
the  reft  of  thcii  countrymen,  they  confine  their  wo- 
men; yet,  by  sealing  them  with  lenity  and  indul- 
gence, they  fecure  their  virtue  by  attaching  their 
hear  IS. 

Married  to  each  other  in  their  infancy,  they  have 
iiie  j^reaieft  veneration  tor  the  .^uptial  tie.  Their 
muiuLil  iijndT.efs  iiicreafes  with  their  flrength  ;  and, 
in  "  "  "  -  -  r-  ; ''  *!  cilory  of  the  wives  ccniifts  in 
p'  .     This  duty  they  confider  as 

one  0:  the  iTiOil  iaored  of  ibeir  holy  religion,  and 


44  SKETCHES  OF  thk  SEX, 

which  die  gods  will  not   liifFcr  them  to  uegled  with 
impunity. 

While  the  refl:  of  the  Hindoo  women  take  eve- 
ry opportuaity  to  elude  their  keepers,  thefe  volun« 
tarily  coaline  themCelves^  at  leaft  from  the  company 
and  converfatioaof  all  ftrangers,  and  in  every  rel- 
peft  copy  that  {implicity  of  life  and  nr.anners  for 
which  their  hufbands  are  fo  remarkable. 


=i^ri 


CHAP.  XV, 

A'  Cofnparifon  between  the  Mahometans  and  Butch^  luith 
regard  to  their  Women » 

"  W  OMEN  have  naturally  moft  power,"  fays 
an  ingenious  lady,*  "  in  thofe  countiies  where  the 
laws  relative  to  them  are  moit  rigid;  and,  wherev- 
er legiflators  have  moft  abridged  their  privileges,  their 
power  is  moft  confeffed.*' 

If  we  take  a  flight  view  of  the  laws  relative  to 
the  fex  araongft  people  of  different  charaders,  and 
the  cuftoms  which  feem  to  throw  light  upon  the  fub- 
jeft,  it  will  appear  that  women  have  often  been,  and 
Jillzre^  reftrained,  confined,  and  fubj.fted  to  fevere 
laws,  in  proportion  to  the  greatnefs  of  their  natural 
power ;  and  that  they  are,  by  the  laws  and  ufages, 
encouraged  and  fupported  in  proportion  to  their 
want  of  it. 

Of  this  faft.  the  laws  and  cuftoms  of  the  Ma- 
hometans in  Alia  refpefting  women,  and  the  laws  and 
manners  relative  to  them  amongtt  the  people  of  Hol- 
land, ai*e  a  ftifficient  proof. 

A  Mahometan  places  his  fiipreme  delight  in  his 
feraglio;  his  riches  are  beftowed  in  purchafmg  wo- 
men to  fill  it :  andj  in  proportion  to  his  fortune,  his 
fcmaleaare  beautiful  and  numerous,     la  women  he 

♦  Mr9»  Klfldcrfley. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  4S- 

places  his  chief  amufement,  his  luxury,  his  prefent 
happinefs,  and  future  reward. 

But  this  violent  fondnefs  for  the  fex,  divided  as 
.:  *o  betwixt  many  favorites,  iDforms  hira  that  other 
nvan  have  the  fame  violent  paliions.  Tne  beauties' of 
his  feraglio,  which  delight  him,  he  knows  would  de- 
light other  men,  could  they  obtain  a  fight  of  them, 
lience  arife  the  ftridl  confmement  of  liis  women,  the 
guards  of  eunechs,  and  every  pcffiblebar  to  their  be- 
ing vifible  to  ether  men.  Hence  it  is,  likewiie,  that, 
when  he  receives  any  new  beauty  into  his  houfe,  the 
moft  profound  fecrecy  is  oblierved.  But  he  docs  not 
al'duays  confine  his  wives  and  female  flaves,  becaufe 
he  iiolds  th  m  in  contempt :  he  guards  their  perfons, 
as  his  mof  I  valuable  treafures. 

This  extreme  uxcrioufnefs  of  the  men,  is  what 
gives  the  women  tiieir  natural  power  over  them  j  and 
the  knowledge  of  this  power  has  caufed  the  men  to 
eftablifh  laws  and  cufloms,  to  prevent  in  fome  mea* 
fare  its  effefts. 

Thefe  laws  prevent  the  women  from  having  any 
Ihare  in  government,  debar  them  from  entering  the 
mofques,  from  holding  any  lands,  or  enjoying  any 
fortunes,  indepc  ndent  of  their  huibands  or  parents  ; 
and,  in  (hort,  give  their  huibands  an  abfolute  author* 
ity  over  them. 

In  Holland,  on  the  contrar^%  where  the  men  are 
of  a  phlegmatic  difpofition,  devoted  to  gain,  enemies 
to  luxury,  prudent,  felfiih,  and  cold  in  their  attach- 
ments to  the  fex,  the  natural  pov/er  of  women  muft 
confequently  be  fmall.  On  this  account,  as  there  is 
little  danger  that  the  men  will  treat  them  with  too 
much  kindnefs,  or  be  feduced  by  their  allurements, 
the  laws  are  calculate  !  not  to  increale,  but  to  reftrain 
the  authority  of  hufl)ands  ;  and  the  magiftrates  find 
it  nectfl'ary  to  fupport  the  women  in  the  privileges 
the  laws  have  given  them,  by  great  attention  to  their 
complaints. 

Ncverthelefs,  in  fpite  of  the  feverity  of  the  Ma» 


46  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

hometan  laws  refpetling  women,  and  the  lenity  of* 
the  laws  ref'pefting  them  in  Holland,  it  appears  that 
there  have  been  numbers  of  Mahometans  (-vea  men 
on  whom  the  fate  of  kingdoms  has  depended)  who 
have  given  themfelves  up  to  the  entire  dire£tion  of 
their  female  favorites  ;  though  it  does  not  appear 
that  Dutch  huibands  give  up  their  intereft  through 
the  mfluence  of  their  wives. 

The  manners  of  Mahometan  women,  and  the 
manners  of  Dutch  women,  are  no  lefs  different  than 
the  laws  by  which  they  are  governed ;  and,  in  both, 
the  difference  arifes  from  the  fame  caufes. 

As  a  Muffulman  procures  wives  and  female 
flaves  for  his  pleafure  only,  nothing  is  expefted  in 
them  but  youth  and  beauty,  or,  at  moft,  the  arts  of 
finging  and  dancing.  They  are  too  precious  to  be 
fatigued  by  cares.  As  their  bufmefs  is  only  to  make 
themfelves  ao:reeable,  they  attire  themfdvesin  the  mofl: 
expenfive  dreffes,prafticf  the  mofl:  becoming  attitudes, 
and  throw  their  eyes  with  the  moll  bewitching  lan- 
guiihment ;  are  feeble  and  indolent  in  their  youth  ; 
and  old  age,  which  comes  upon  women  early  in 
their  climate,  is  fpent  in  jealoufy  of  their  more  youth- 
ful rivals. 

But  as  a  Dutch  woman  is  expefteJ  to  ferve, 
fhe  attends  to  bufinefs,  and  neglefts  her  perfon :  Ihe 
is  inelegant  and  robuft ;  her  laughs  are  hearty,  and  her 
expreffions  coarfe. 

A  Dutchman  defires  in  his  wife  an  affiftant,  a 
fceward,  a  partner  in  his  cares.  She  only  expefts  to 
be  valued  in  proportion -to  her  induitry  and  occcno- 
my :  as,  therefore,  the  Mahometan  women  are  ex- 
amples of  the  molt  extreme  indolcrxe  ;  ti:e  Dutch 
v/omen  are  remarkable  for  the^r  application  to  bufi- 
nefs. Thus  they  become  of  conlequence  in  them- 
felves, as  well  as  ufeM  in  promoting  the  intereft  of 
thiir  hufbands,  not  only  by  their  domeffic  ccconc- 
iny,  but  by  their  knowleclge  in  traffic.  I'he  wife, 
indeed,  is  very  often,  both  the  efiiilant  and  thedireo- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  47 

tor  of  her  hulband's  affiiirs;  and  maoy  unmarrhd 
women  are  very  confiderabie  merchants. 

Bui  though  man V  of  them,  by  their  induftry 
and  application  to  bufmefs,  gain  a  degree  of  conle- 
quence^it  is  a  coafequeiice  independent  of  their  fex. 
It  is  not  the  woman,  but  the  merchant,  who  is  con- 
fidered. 

Tne  women  of  Holland  are  under  very  little  ref- 
traint,  beciufe  tl.e  Dutch  are  unacquainted  with  that 
jealouiy  which  torments  a  Muflulman  ;  and  can, 
without  any  uneafinefs,  fee  tkeir  wives  carrying  on 
bufmefs,  and  firiking  bargains,  with  the  greateit 
ftran.2;crs. 

in  contrafi:  to  the  myftericus  fecrecy  with  which 
a  female  is  ufhered  into  a  (eragiio,  the  marriages  of 
the  Dutch  are  procl^.imed  long  before  they  take 
place  ;  and  their  c  our' (hips  are  earned  on  even  with- 
out tnat  referve  and  delicacy  obferved  in  the  politer 
nations  of  Europe, 

In  fpeaking  of  H(  Hand,  we  muft  be  iinderftood 
to  mean  the  bulk  of  the  people.  A  few  people  of 
rank  are  imitators  of  the  French  manners.  Among 
thefe,  however,  the  national  charader  is  vifible. 


r^ss:^^- 


r'HAP.  XVI. 


'  ''".men. 

X  ^^  ^Vtrcars  were  tormeriy  renowned  for  tlieir 
induftry  in  cultivating  the  ground,  for  their  trade, 
navigation,  carav.ms,  and  ufcful  arts.  At  prelent 
they  are  remarkable  for  their  idlenefs,  ignorance,  lii- 
perltition,  treachery,  and,  above  all,  for  their  lawlefs 
methods  of  robbing  and  murdering  all  the  other  in- 
habitants of  the  globe. 

Though  they  Itill  retain  fome  feafe  of  their  infa- 
mous charaftcr,  yet  they  do  not  ch  oofe  to  reform. 


48  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

Their  priefts,  therefore,  endeavor  tojuftify  thera,b'j 
the  following  ftory:  ^' Noiih/Mby  they,  "was  nc 
Iboner  dead,  than  his  tbree  frns,  the  firft  of  whoir^ 
was  iihite^  the  I'ecord  tawny y  and  the  third  blacky  hzxA^ 
lEg  agreed  up.Ta  dividing  am-^  them  his  goods  ana 
poffeiiioas,  fpsot  t'  e  gieate^  p  rt  of  the  day  in  fort3 
ing  theu'i ;  fo  tha'  they  wer.-  •;i:)iiged  to  ndjourn  thc^ 
divifion  till  the  text  m^-raiiig.    Having  fupped,  and 
fmoaked  a  friendly  pipe  together,  they  all  went  to 
reft,  each  in  hi%  own  te-it.    After  a  few  hours  fleep, 
the  v/hite  brother  get  up,  feized  on  the  gold,  filver, 
precious  ftones,  and  other  things  of  the  greateft  val- 
ue, loaded  the  beft  horfes  with  them,  and  rede  away 
to  that  country  wherehis  white  pofterity  have  been  fet- 
tled ever  fince.   The  tawny,  awaking  foon  after,  and 
with  the  fame  criminal  intentioti,  was  furprifcd,  when 
he  came  to  the  ftorehoufe,  to  find  that  his  brother 
had  been  beforehand  with  him.     Upon  which,  he 
haftily  fecured  the  reft  of  the  horfes  and  camels,  and 
loading  them  with  the  beft  carpets,  clothes,  and  other 
remaining  goods,  direfted  his  rout  to  another  part 
of  the  world,  leaving  behind  him  only  a  few  of  the 
coarfefc  of  the  goods,andfomeprovifionsof  littlevalue* 

"  When  the  third,  or  black  brother,  came  next 
morning,  in  the  fimplicity  cf  his  heart,  to  make  the 
propofed  divifion,  and  could  neither  find  h^s  breth- 
ren, nor  any  of  the  valuable  commodities,  he  eafily 
judged  that  they  had  tricked  him,  and  were  by  that 
time  fled  beyond  any  poffibility  of  a  difcovery. 

^'  In  this  mojl  afllicted  fituation,  he  took  his/f>^, 
and  begun  to  confider  the  moft  effe6lual  means  of  re- 
trieving his  lofs,  and  being  revenged  on  his  perfid- 
ious brothers. 

"  After  revolving  a  variety  of  fchemes  in  his 
miod,  he  at  laft  fixed  upon  watching  every  opportun- 
ity of  making  reprifals  on  them,  and  laying  hold  cf 
and  carrying  av/ay  their  property,  as  often  ?s 
nlhould  fall  in  his  way,  in  revenge  for  the  lofs  of  that 
patrimony  of  whicn  they  had  fo  uDJuftly  deprived  him. 


1 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  49 

"  Having  corae  to  this  refc  lation,  he  not  only 

vOiitinued  in  the  praftice  of  it  all  his  life,  but  on  his 

death-bed  laid  the  iirongeft  injunftions  on  his  def- 

ceodants  to  do  To,  to  the  end  of  the  world/* 

Some  tribes  of  the  Africans,  however,  when  they 
have  engaged  themfclves  in  the  prot-eftion  of  a  ftran- 
gcr,  are  remarkable  for  fidelity.  Many  of  them  are 
CO',  Ip:  CUD  us  f.^r  their  temperance,  hofpitality,  and 
feveral  other  virtues.  ^. 

Their  women,  upon  the  whole,  are  far  from  be- 

...^'  indelicate  or  urxhafte.     On  the  banks  of  the  Ni- 

g?r,  they  are  tolerably  icduftrious,  have  a  confidera- 

ble  Ihare  of  vivacity,  and  at  the  fame  lime  a  female 

referve,  which  would  do  no  difcredit  to  a  politer 

couatry.^    '1  hey  are  modett,  affable,   and  faithful; 

an  air  of  innocence  appears  in  -  their  looks,  and  in 

their  lingu'ge,  which  gives  a  beauty  to  then-  whole 

depcrtment.  ^ 

When,  from  the  Niger,  we  approach  toward  the 

Ewft,  the  African  women  degenerate  in  Ilature,  com- 

xion,  fenfibility,  and  chaltity.     Even  their  lan- 

'g^,  like  their  features,  and  the  (oil  they  inhabit, 

.5  irih  and  difagreeable.    Tneir  pleafures  referable 

re  the  transports  offary,  than  the  gentle  emotions 

r.municued  by  agreeable  fenfati  )ns. 

Beyond  the  river  Volta,  i;i  the  country  of  Benin, 

1  :^e  women,  t^'oui<h  far  from  bein^^  famous  for  any 

the  viraies,  would  not  be  difagreeable  in  their 

ks,  were  ir  not  for  th-  abominable  cu%m  of  raark- 

v'ah  (cars,  for  the  fame  purpofes  as 

dies  hyon  paint. 

a  few  refpefls  bitter  than  favages, 

ular  opinion  all  over  this  country, 

to  humanize  the  mind.    ITiisisafirm 

th-'t,  to  whatevf:r  place  they  remove 

-  or  are  by  any  acci-^ent  remove  J,  they 

"^*^^:  return  to  th-^^ir  cwn  ^oun  ry,  whicli 

the  mod  delightful  in  the  univerfe, 
i^nu  delufive  hope  not  only  (bfteas  the 
V 


50  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

llavery^  to  which  they  are  often  condemaed  in  other 
countries,  but  alfo  induces  them  to  treat  fuch  flran- 
gers  as  come  among  them  with  much  civility.  They 
think  they  are  come  there  to  enjoy  paradife,  and  to 
receive  the  reward  of  virtuous  aftions  done  in  other 
countries. 


^^s:;^^ 


CHAP.  XVil. 


Of  the  Effeds  of  Chivalry  on  the  Chara^er  and  the  Man- 
ners,  of  IVomen* 

jTjLISTORY  does  not  afford  fo  fmgular  a  revolu- 
tion in  policy  and  manners,  as  that  which  followed 
the  fubvcrfion  of  the  Roman  empire. 

It  is  to  the  barbarians,  who  fpread  conflagration 
and  ruin,  who  trampled  on  the  monuments  of  arr, 
and  fpumed  the  appendages  of  elegance  and  pleafure, 
that  we  owe  the  bewitching  fpirit  of  gallantry  vv^hich 
in  thefe  ages  of  refinement,  reigns  ifo  the  courts  of  Eu- 
rope. That  fyftem,  wliich  has  made  it  a  princple  of 
honor  among  us  to  ccnfiJer  the  women  as  fover?igns ; 
which  has  partly  formed  our  cuftoms  our  manners^ 
and  our  policy  ;  which  has  exalted  the  human  char- 
after,  by  Ibftening  the  empire  offeree;  which  mingles 
politenefs  with  theufe  of  the  fword  ;  which  delights 
in  protefting  the  weak,  and  in  conferring  that  impor- 
tance which  nature  or  fortune  have  denied — that  fyf- 
tem was  brought  hither  from  the  frozen  Azores  of  the 
Baltic,  and  from  the  favage  forefts  of  the  North 

The  northern  nations,  in  general,  paid  a  grea' 
relpeft  to  women.  Continually  employed  in  huntj 
ing  or  in  war,  they  condefcended  only  to  foften  theii 
ferocity  in  the  prefence  of  the  fair.  Their  forefts 
were  the  nurferies  of  chivalry :  beauty  was  there  thr 
reward  of  valour. 

A  warrior,  to  render  himfelf  worthy  of  his  mi! 


i 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.  51 

trefs,  went  in  fearch  of  glory  and  of  danger.  Jeal* 
Gufy  produced  challenges.  Single  combats,  inffitU" 
ted  by  love,  often  ftained  uith  blood  the  woods 
and  the  borders  of  the  lakes ;  and  the  fword  afcer- 
nined  the  rights  of  Venus  as  well,  as  of  Mars. 

Let  us  not  be  furprized  at  thefe  manners.  A-» 
mong  men  who  have  made  few  advances  in  civiliza- 
tion, but  who  are  already  united  in  large  bodies,  wo- 
men have  naturally  the  greateft  fway.  Society  is 
then  fuiEclently  cultivated  to  have  introduced  the 
ideas  of  preference  and  of  choice,  in  the  connedioa 
between  the  fexes,  which  feem  to  be  little  regarded, 
if  at  all  known,  among  favages.  It  is  however  too 
rude  to  partake  of  th:- 1  ftate  of  effeminacy,  in  which 
the  fenies  are  enfeebled,  and  the  alTcftions  worn  out 
by  habit. 

People  but  little  removed  from  barbarifm,  in  the 
perfeftion  cf  their  animal  powers,  and  ignorant  of  all 
thofe  artificial  pleafures  created  by  the  wants  of  po- 
lifhed  life,  feel  niore  exquifitely  the  pleafures  of  na- 
ture, and  the  genuine  emotions  of  man.  They  min- 
gle even  with  their  love  a  kind  of  adoration  to  the 
female  fex. 

Several  of  the  northern  nations  imagined  that 

omen  could  lock  into  futurity,  and  that  they  had 

.out  them  an  inconceivable  fomething  appropxhing 

10  divinity.    Perhaps  that  idea  was  only  the  efteci:  of 

the  fagaclty  common  to  the  fex,  and  the  advantage 

which  their  natural  addrefs  gave  them  over  rough 

and  fimple  warriors.  Perhaps,  alfo,  thofe  barbarians, 

furprized  at  the  influence  which  beauty  has  over 

force,  were  led  to  afcribe  to  fupernatural  attradioa 

charm  which  they  could  not  comprehend. 

A  belief,  however,  that  the  Deity  communicates 
:nfelfmore  readily  to  women,  has  atone  time  or 
other  prevailed  in  every  quarter  of  the  earth:  ncton- 
ly  the  Germans  and  the  Britons,  but  all  the  people  of 
Scandinav'i.  nofTeffedof  it.  Among  the  Greeks, 

iKnMB  dt  ■      .  .     e  oracles.   The  rtfpe(fl  which  the 


52  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. . 

Romans  paid  to  the  Sibyls  is  well  known.  Tlie  Jews 
had  their  prophetefFes.  The  prediftions  of  the.  Egyp- 
tian women  obtained  much- credit  at  Rome>even  un- 
der the  emperors.  And  in  the  mcft  barbarous  n:a- 
ti..ns,  all  things  that  have  the  appearance  of  being  fii- 
pernaturalj.t- e  niyft'.ries  of  religion,  the fecrets  of 
phyfic,  and  the  rights  of  magic,  are  in  the  poffeffion 
cf  the  wcme-n. 

The  barbarians  who  over-ran  Europe  carried 
then*  opinions  alorg  with  their  anrs.  Arevclution 
in  ih^  manner  of  living  muft  therefore  f  on  have  ta- 
ken place,  The  climatesof  the  r>orth  required  Hi  tlere- 
ferve  between  the  fexcs;  and,  during  the  invafions 
from  that  quarter,  which  continued  for  three  or  four 
hundred  years,  it  was  conim.on  to  fee  women  mixed 
with  warriors. 

By  aflcciating  with  a  corrupted  people,  who  had 
ail  the  vices  of  former  profperity,  along  with  thcfe  of 
prefent  adverfry,,the  conquerors  v/ere  not  likely  to 
imbibe  more  fevere  ideas.  Hence  we  fee  thofe  fons 
of  rhe  north,  in  fofter  climates,  unilir.g  the  vices  of 
refinement  to  the  flatehnefs  of  the  warrior^  and  the 
pride  of  the  barbarian. 

They  embraced  Chriftianity;  but  it  rather  mxd- 
ified  than  changed  their  charafter:  it  mingled  i:felf 
with  Their  cuiloms,  without  altering  the  genius  of 
•the  people. 

Thus,  by  degrees,  were  laid  the  foundations  of 
new  manners,  which,  in  modern  Europe,  have 
brought  the  two  fexes  more  on  a  level,  by  affigning 
to  the  women  a  kind  of  fovereignty,  and  affociating 
love  with  valcuro 

The  true  a?ra  of  cHivalry  was  the  fourteenth 
century.  That  civil  and  military  inftitution  took  its 
rife  from  a  train  of  circumfiances,  and  the  native 
bent  of  the  new  inhabitants. 

Shattered  by  the  fall  of  the  empire,  Europe  had 
not  yet  arrived  at  any  degree  of  confiftency.  After 
five  hundred  years v  nothing  was  fixed.    From  the 


SKETCHES  OP  THE  SEX.  53 

',  Miiit^  of  Chriftianity  with  the  ancient  cuftoms  of 

•ci  barbariai  s,  fprung  a  conanuiil  dilc-^rd  in  manners^. 

rom  the  mixture  of  the  rights  of  ihs  priefthood  with 

.wfe  of  the  empire,  fprung  a  diicord  in  laws  and  pel-- 

=cs.    From  the  mixture  of  the  rights  of  fovereigns 

vith  thofe  of  the  nobility,  fprung  a  diicord  in  gov-^ 

erament.     Anarchy  and  ccnfufion  wxre  the  refult  of 

fo  many  contrafts. 

Chriftinnity  which  had  now  lofl  much  of  its  orig- 

.ii?A  influence,  like  a  feeble  curb,  was  ftili  fufficient  to 

reft  rain  the  weak  palfions,  but  wrs  no  longer  able  to 

^-ijle  theftrong.   It  produced  remorfe,  but  could  not 

Twvent  guilt. 

Th?  pe(3ple  of  thofe  times  made  pilgrimage?,  and 
\ey  pillaged  :  they  maflli-^red,  and  ih  y  afterwards 
did  penance.  Robbery  and  lieenticufnefs  were  blend- 
ed with  fuperS-ition. 

It  was  in  this  crra  that  the  nobility,  idle  and 

.  p.riike,  from  a  fentiment  of  natural  equity,  and  that 

aeafinefs  which  follows  the  peipetraticnof  vilence, 

:om  the  dcubk  motive *of  religion  and   of  heroifm, 

■bciated  themfdve.s  together  to  eff'eft,  in  a  body, 

..h:^.r  ---  -  ---  -ad  ncglefted,  or  but  poorly  ex- 

incir  oi^jcct  was  to  combat  the  Moors  in  Spain, 
e  Saracens  in  Afia,  t:ie  tyrants  cf  the  caftles  and 
holds  in  Germaiiy  and  in  France;  to  aflurs  the 
of  travellers,  as  Hercules  and  Ihelcus  did  of 
i ;  and,  above  all  things,  to  defend  the  hvonor  and 
oteft  the^  rights  cf  the  feeble  (ex,  againll  the  too 
cquent  viilany  and  cppreflion  of  the  ftrong. 

Anobie  Ipirit  of  gallantry  foon  mingled  it felf 

th  that  inflitution.      Every  knight,  in  devoting 

imfelf  to  danger,  iifted  himfelf  under  feme  lady  as 

1  is  lovereign  :  itwrs  for  her  that  he  attacked,  for 

^r  that  he  defended,  for  her  that  he  mounted  the 

:dls  of  cities  wd  of  caltles,  anr^  for  her  honour  that 

■ '  "^  blood. 

1  c  Y/as  only  one  large  field  of  battle,  where 


54  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX, 

warriors  clad  in  armour,  and  adorned  with  the  rib- 
bands and  with  the  cyphers  of  their  miftreffes,  en* 
gaged  in  clofe  fight  to  merit  the  favour  of  beauty. 

Fidelity  was  then  aflbciated  with  courage,  and 
love  was  infeparably  connefted  with  honour. 

The  women,  proud  of  their  fway,  and  of  receiv- 
ing it  from  the  hands  of  virtue,  became  worthy  of  the 
great  aftions  of  their  lovers,  and  reciprocated  paffions 
as  noble  as  thofe  they  infpired.  An  ungener:us 
choice  debafed  them.  The  tender  fen  timer,  t  was 
Hever  felt,  but  when  united  wi^h  glory :  and  the  man- 
ners breathed  an  inexpreffible  fomethingof  pride,  he- 
roifm,  and  tendernefs,  which  was  altogether  arlon- 
ifliing. 

Beauty,  perhaps,  never  exerclfed  fo  fweet  or  h 
powerful  an  empire  over  the  heart.  Hence  thofe  ccn- 
flant  paffions  which  our  levity  cannot  comprehend, 
and  which  our  manners,  our  little  wenknelles,  cur 
perpetual  thirft  of  hopes  and  defires,  cur  liflleis  anxie- 
ty that  torments  us,  and  which  tires  iifelf  in  purfuit 
of  emotion  without  pleafure,  and  of  impulfe  wirhcut 
aim,  have  often  turned  into  ridicule  on  our  theatre?, 
in  our  converlations,  and  in  our  Uves. 

But  it  is  neverthelefs  true,  that  thofe  paffions, 
foftered  by  years,  and  roufed  by  obftacles  ;  where 
refpeftkept  hope  at  a  diftance  ;  where  love,  fed  only 
by  facrifices,  facrificed  itfelf  unceafingly  to  honour — 
re-invigorated  the  characters  and  the  fouls  of  the  two 
fexes ;  gave  more  energy  to  the  one,  and  more  ele- 
vation to  the  other  ;  changed  men  into  heroes  ;  and 
infpired  the  women  with  a  pride  which  was  by  nqt 
naeans  hurtful  to  virtue. 


^^^a^ 


SKETCliES  o  :;£X.  :, 

CHAP.  XVIIL 
The  Opinion  of  tiv9   Alod^rn  Authors  concerning  Chivalrj*, 

HE  feniimentr,  of  two  lata  writers  cf  high  repu- 
tation corroborate  this  account  cf  the  origin  and  pro- 
grefs  of  chivalry. 

*•  The  fyiiem  of  chivahy,  when  completely  form- 
eJ/'  fays  Profeffor  Fcrguion,  ''  proceeded  on  a 
marveiloiis  refpeft  aad  venera'.ion  to  the  f.ir  fex,  on 

'fonns  of  combat  eilabliflied,  and  on  a  fuppofed  junc- 
tion of  the  heroic  and  fanftified  charafter.  The 
formalities  cf  the  duel,  and  a  kind  of  judicial  chal- 
'  j'lg^,  were  known  am:^ng  the  ancient  Celtic  cations 
>  f  Europe'.  The  Germans,  even  in  their  native  fcr- 
efts,  paid  a  kind  of  devotion  to  the  female  fex.  The 
Chriftian  religion  enjoined  meeknefs  andco.T'paffioii 
to  barbarous  ages. 

**  Thefe  different  priociples,  combined  together, 
■  ay  have  ferved  as  the  foundation  of  a  fyflem,  in 
w-aich  cour.'ge  was  direfted  by  religion  and  1  jve,  and 
th2  warlike  and  geiitte  were  united  together.  When 
'':e  charafters  cf  ihe  henj  and  the  fa'nt  w:-re  mixed, 
e  mild  fpirit  of  Chriflianity,  though  often  turned 
into  venom  by  the  bigo^  ry  of  oppofite  parties ;  though 
it  could  not  always  iubdue  the  ferocity  of  the  war- 

'  rior,  nor  fupprefs  the  admiration  of  courage  and 
fcrce ;  may  have  confirms  :1  tbe  apprchenfions  of  men, 

^  in  what  was  to  l;e  held  meritorious  and  fplendid,  in 
the  conduft  of  their  quarrels. 

*'  The  feudal  eflablifhments,  by  the  high  rank 
to  which  they  elevated  certain  families,  no  doubt 
greatly  favoured  this  romantic  fyfiem.  Not  only  the 
luflre  of  a  noble  defcent,  but  the  (lately  caHle  befct 
with  batilemeots  and  towers,  ferved  to  ii  flame  the 
'  nagination,  and  to  create  a  veneration  for  the  daugh- 
:  c  r  and  the  fitfter  of  gallant  chiefs,  whofe  point  of  han- 


S6  SKETCiiLb  OB  THE  SEX. 

o!Jr  it  was  to  be  inacceffibh  and  chaile ;  and  who 
could  perceive  no  merit  but  tkat  of  the  high-minded 
and  the  brave,  nor  be^  approached  in  any  other  ac- 
centsjhan  thofe  of  gentienefs  and  refpeft." 

Profeirbr  Millar,  in  his  Obfervations  concerning 
the  Dift^nfti.  n  of  Ranks  in  Society,  gives  the  follow- 
ing ieniible  and  plealing  account  of  chivalry  :  ^^  From 
the  prevailing  fpirit  of  the  times,  the  art  of  v/ar  be-, 
came  the  (lu:!y  of  ev^ry  one  who  was  defirous  of 
maintainirag  the  clraracber  of  a  gentleman.  The  ^joutlr 
were  early  initiated  in  the  proftiEon  of  arms,  and 
ferved  a  icrt  of  apprenticefhip  under  perfons  of  rank' 
and  experience. 

^^  The  ycung/c'z/'/T  became  in  reality  thefervant 
of  that  leader  to  vv^iicm  he  had-ati^achedhimfelf,  and 
whofe  virtues  were  fet  before  him  as  a  mode  which; 
he  propofed  to  imitate. 

"  He  was  taught  to  perforrr:,  with  eafe  and  dex-. 
terity,  thofe  exerciie?  which  were  either  ornamental 
or  uieful ;  and.  at  the  fame  tirr.e,  he  endeavoured  ta 
acquire  thofe  talents  and  acccmpiifhments  which  were 
thought  Cuitable  to  his  profeiTion. 

"  He. was  taught  to  lock  upon  it  as  h*s  duty  to. 
check"  the  infokn%  to  reftrain  the  oppreffor,  to  pro-  - 
teft  the  weak  .L.d  defencelefs  ;  to  behave  with  frank- 
nefs  and  humanity  even  to  an  enemy,  with  modefty 
and  poll  ten  efs  to  ail.  ^  ^ 

"According  to  the  profiriency  which  he  had 
made,  he  was  proportionably  advanced  in  rank  and  ' 
charafter.    He  was  honoured  with  new  titles  and  ' 
marks  of  diftindion,  till  at  length  he  arrived  at   the 
dignity  of  knighthood,     i  his  dignity  even  the  great*  * 
eft  potentates  were  ambitious  of  acqiilring,  as  it  was 
fuppofed  to  diftinguifh  a  pt- Ton  who  had  obtained  the 
moft  complete  military  education,  and  who  had  at- 
tained to  a  high  degree  of  eminence  in  thofe  particu- 
lar qualities  which  were  then  univerfaliy  admired  and 
refpefled. 

t^  The  fituation  of  mankind  in  thgfe  periods  had 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SES.  57 

:  alfo  amanifeft  tendon  :y  (0  heig!:t€n  and  improve  the 
paffion  hetwv^en  the/'AVT. 

"  It  v/as  not  to  oe  expec^^d  that  thofe  opulent 
chiefs,  who  -were  fo  oFen  at  variance,  and  who  main- 
tained a  c:^nft'mt  opp  fitim  to  each  other,  would  al- 
low a  ^y  tort  of  fainllianty  t  "•  take  phce  beiween  the 
members  '  f  th-ir  relpedive  f  ;m':ii  s.  Re:  ireJ  ia  their 
ow'o  cardec,  and  furn  irided  by  iheirnunierous  vaf- 
fab,  ih  ^y  looked  up jh  their  neighbours  eit  ler  as  m- 
ferior  to  them  In  rank,  ^r  as  eneihies  againlt  whom  they 
were  obliged  to  be  conllantly  up  ^^n  theirguard.  They 
behaved  to  each  ciher  with  that  ctremofiious  civil  ty 
which  the  law<?  of  chivalr-^  requred  ;  but,  at  the 
(am^  tiir^e,  with  that  raferve  and  caution  which  a  re- 
gard to  their  cwa  fafcty  made  it  ueceliiiry  for  them 
to  obferve. 

"  The  you-  g  kn-ght,  as  he  mnrched  to  t\\e  tour- 
nament, faw  at  a  diftance  the  daughter  of  the  chieftain 
by  whom  the  fhow  was  exhibited  ;  and  it  was  even 
with  difficulty  ihat  he  couid  vibiain  acctfs  to  her,  in 
order  to  declare  the  fendments  with  which  (he  had 
infpired  i^:im.  He  was  ei^er^ained  by  l.er  relations 
wi  h  that  cold  refpect  wh^ii  demo  il^nted  th  ir  un- 
wil'ingntfs  to  coniracl  an  alFrmce  wit^^  him.  The  la- 
dy herfelf  was  taught  to  alliiir.e  the  pride  of  her  fam- 
ily, and  to  think  that  no  p-rfon  was  worthy  of  her 
aiTcclicn,  who  did  nor  poiTefs  the  moft  exalted  rank 

d  characler.  To  have  give.n  way  to  a  fudden  in- 
v,.i  jation,  wculd  have  difgr^red  her  for  ever  in  the 
opinion  of  all  her  kindred  \  and  i*"  was  oidy  by  a  long 
courfe  of  attention,  and  of  the  molt  refpeclful  fer- 
▼ice,  that  the  bver  could  hop:^  for  any  favour  from 
his  milhxTs. 

"The  barbarous  ftate  cfthe  c:uatry  at  that 
"  >e,  and* the  injury  to  which  the  inhabitants,  efpe- 

•  ly  thofe  of  the  we.ikpr  fex,  were  frequently  ex- 
i  le  !,  gave  jiniple  fcope  for  the  difplay  of  military 
•  r-nts ;  and  the  kIl:^ht  who  had  nothing  to  do  at 

ir.e  wss  encouraged  to  wander  from  place  to  place, 


% 


SS         \  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

and  from  one  court  to  another^  in  queft  of  adven- 
tures. Thus  he  endeavoured  to  advance  his  reputa- 
tion in  arms,  and  to  recommend  himfelf  to  the  fair 
of  whom  he  was  enamoured,  by  fighting  with  every 
perfon  v/ho  was  fo  inconfiderate  as  to  diipute  her  un- 
rivalled beauty,  virtue,  or  perlbnal  accompliihments. 

''  As  there  were  many  peribns  in  the  fame  fitu- 
aticn,  fo  they  were  naturally  infpiredwith  fimilar  fen- 
timents.  Rivals  to  cne  another  in  military  glory, 
they  were  often  competitors,  as  Milton  expreffeth  it, 
to  win  her  grace  who7n  all  ccmjiiend ;  and  the  fame  emula- 
tion which  difpofed  them  to  ann  at  pre-eminence  in  one 
refpeft,  excited  them  with  nolefs  eagernefs  to  difpute 
the  preference  in  the  other.  Their  difpofitions  and 
manner  of  thinking  became  fafhlouable,  and  were  grad- 
.laliy  diffafeJ  by  the  force  of  education  and  example. 

"  To  be  in  loi?e  v/as  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
necefTary  qualiiications  of  a  knight;  and  he  was  no 
lefs  ambitious  of  fliewing  his  cooftancy  and  fidelity  to 
his  miftrefs,  than  of  difplaying  his  miUtary  virtues. 
He  afluTTieJ  the  title  of  herflave  and  fervant.  By 
this  he  diflinguilhed  himfelf  in  every  confiift  in  which 
he  v/as  engaged  ;  and  his  fuccefs  was  fuppofed  to  re- 
dound to  her  honour,  no  lefs  than  to  his  own.  If 
fhe  had  befiov/ed  on  Yiim  z  prefent  io  be  worn  in  the 
field  cf  battle,  in  token  of  her  regard,  it  was  confid- 
ered  as  a  fure  pledge  of  viftory,  and  as  laying  upon 
him  the  ftrongeft  obligation  to  aft  in  fuch  manner  as 
would  render  him  worthy  of  the  favour  which  he  had 
received. . 

"  The  fincere  and  faithful  paffion,  the  diHant 
fentimcntal  attachment  which  commonly  occupied  the 
heart  of  every  warrior,  and  which  he  poflefled  upon 
all  occafious,  v/as  naturally  produftive  oi  the  utmoft 
purity  of  manners,  and  of  great  refpeft  and  venera- 
tion for  the  female  fex. 

"  Perfons  who  made  a  point  of  defending  the 
reputation  and  dignity  of  that  particular  lady  to  whom 
they  were  devoted,  became  thereby  extremely  can- 


SKETCHES  01'  the  SEX.  59 

tious  and  delicate,  left,  by  any  infmuation  whatever, 
they  fhculd  hurt  the  charaller  of  another,  and  be  ex- 
pofed  to  the  juft  cenfure  and  refentment  of  thofe  by 
whom  fhe  was  protefted. 

"  A  woman  who  deviated  fo  far  from  the  eflab- 
liOied  maxims  of  the  age,  as  to  violate  the  laws  of 
chaflity,  was  indeed  defeated  by  every  body,  and  was 
therefore  umverfally  condemned  and  infulteJ.  But 
thofe  who  adhered  to  the  ftrift  rules  of  virtue,  and 
maintaiued  an  unblemiflied  reputation,  were  treated 
like  beings  of  a  fuperior  order/' 

Such  was  the  fpirit  of  chivalry.  It  gave  birth  to 
an  incredible  number  of  performances  in  honour  and 
in  praife  of  women.  The  verfes  of  the  bards,  the 
Italian  fonnet,  the  plaintive  romance,  the  p::enis  cf 
chivalry,  the  Spanifh  and  French  romances,  were  fo 
many  monuments  of  that  kind,  c?mpoIed  in  the  time 
of  a  noble  barbarlfm,  and  of  a  hcroifm,  in  which  the 
great  and  ridiculous  were  often  blended. 

Thefe  compofitions,  all  at  once  fo  much  celebra- 

ed,  are  only  calculated  to  gratify  a  vain  curiofity. 

i  hey  may  be  compared  to  the  ruins  of  a  Gothic  pal- 
e.  They  have  in  general,  the  fame  foundation  ;  and 

re  praifes  in  the  one  are  as  uniform  as,the  apartments 

1  the  other.    All  the  women  are  prodhiics  of  beauty, 

ad  miracles  of  virtue. 

In  the  courts,  in  the  fields  cf  battle  or  of  tourna- 
ment, every  thing  breathed  of  women.  The  fame 
tafle  prevailed  in  letters.  One  did  not  write,  one  did 
not  think,  but  for  them.  The  fame  man  was  often 
both  poet  and  warrior.  He  fuDg  with  his  lyre,  and 
encountered  with  his  lance,  by  turns,  for  the  beautv 
that  he  adored. 


=aCte= 


6#  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

CHAP.  XIX. 

Of  the   Great  Enterprifei  of  IVomm  m  the  Times   of 
Chivalry, 

^  JL  HE  times  and  the  manners  ofchivalry,  bybring- 
ing  great  enterpnfes,  bold  adventures,  and  I  know 
not  wh'.it  of  extravagant  here ifm  into  fafhion,  infpir- 
ed  the  women  with  the  fame  tafce. 

The  two  fex^s  always  imitate  each  other.  Their 
manners  and  the:r  minds  are  n-iined  or  corrupted, 
invigorated  or  diilclved  t -gether. 

Th :  women,  in  confequence  of  the  prevailing 
paffion,  v/ere  now  feen  in  the  middle  of  camps 
and  of  armie?.  They  quitted  the  foft  and  tender  in- 
clinations,  and  the  delicate  offires  of  their  owa  fex, 
for  the  courage,  and  the  toilf^me  occupations  of  ours, 

Durin^';  the  crufaJes^animatedby  the  double  en- 
thufiafm  of  religion  and  of  valor,  they  often  perform- 
ed trie  moft  romantic  exploits.  They  obtained  in- 
dulgences on  th.^  field  of  battle,  and  died  with  arms 
in  their  hands,  by  the  fide  of  their  lovers,  or  of  their 
hufbands. 

In  Eurv'^pe,  the  women  attacked  and  defended 
fortificatii  ns.  Princeffjs  commanded  their  armies, 
and  obtained  vi dories. 

Such  was  the  celebrated  Joan  de  Mountfort,  dif- 
pufmg  for  her  duchy  of  Bre^agae,  and  engaging  the 
enemy  herlelf. 

Such  was  the  ftill  m'^re  celebrated  M-^irgaret  of 
Anjou,  queen  of  England,  and  wife  of  Henry  VI. 
She  was  acHve  and  intrepi.l,  a  general  an:!  a  (oldier^ 
Her  genius  for  along  time  fupported  her  feeHe  huf- 
band,  taught  him  to  comiuer,  replaced  him  up '^i  the 
throne,  twice  releved  him  from  prifon,  and,  though 
opprefl'ed  by  fcriun^and  by  rebelr^.  Ihe  did  net  yield^ 
till  (he  had  decided  in  perfon  twelve  battles. 


SKETCHES  OF  tpie  SEX.  6i 

The  warlike  Ipirit  among  the  womei^,  confiftent 
Vith  ages  of  barbarifm,  when  every  thiDg  is  irapem- 
ous  becaufe  noiiiir.g  is  fixed,  and  when  all  excels  is 
the  excels  of  force,  continuevi  in  Europe  upwards  of 
four  hundred  ye^rs,  {hewing  itfelf  frr  m  time  to  time, 
and  always  in  the  middle  of  convulfior-Sj  or  on  the 
tve  of  great  revolutions. 

But  there  were  neras  and  countries,  in  which 
that  fpirit  appeared  with  particular  luflre.  Such  were 
the  dilplays  it  made  in  the  fifteenth  and  fixteenth  cen- 
turies m  Hungary,  and  in  the  Iflands  of  the  Archip- 
elago and  the  Mediterranean,  when  they  were  in- 
vaded by  the  Turks. 

Every  thing  o  nfpired  to  animate  the  women  of 
thofe  ccuntries  with  an  exalted  courage  :  the  prevail- 
ing fpirit  of  the  foregoing  ages  ;  the  terror  which  the 
name  of  the  Turks  infpired  ;  the  flill  more  dreadful 
apprehenfions  of  an  unknown  enemy  ;  the  difl'erence 
oiilrefs^  whrch  has  a  ftronger  effe^  thnn  is  commonly 
fuppofed  on  the  imagination  of  a  people  ;  the  differ- 
ence of  religion,  which  produced  a  kind  of  facred 
horror  ;  the  ftriking  difference  of  m.anners  ;  and, 
above  all,  the  confintment  of  the  female  fex,  which 
prefented  to  the  women  of  Europe  nothing  but  the 
frightful  ideas  of  fer\dtude  and  a  maf ter  ;  the  groans 
of  honor,  the  tears  of  beauty  in  the  embrace  of  bar- 
barirm,  and  the  double  tyranny  of  love  and  pride  ! 

The  conte!):platiou  of  thefe  objeds,  accordingly,' 
roufed  in  the  hearts  of  the  women  a  relclute  courage 
to  defend  themfelves  ;  nay,  (bmetimes  even  a  cour- 
age of  enthufafm,  which  hurled  itielf  againlt  the  en- 
emy.— That  courage,  too,  was  augmented,  by  the 
promifes  of  a  religion,  which  ofiered  eternal  happi- 
nels  in  exchange  for  the  fufltrings  of  a  moment. 

It  is  not  therefore  iwrprifing,  that,  when  threfe 
beautiful  women  of  the  ifle  of  C'yprus  wcr3  led  prif- 
oners  to  Seh:^,  to  be  fecluded  in  the  feraglio,  one  of" 
them,  preferring  death  to  fuch  a  condition,  conceived 
the  projcft  of  letting  fire  to  the  mag?.zine  3  and  after 


(;i  SKETCHES  ^F  THE  SEX. 

having  communicated  her  defign  to  the  reft,  puf  it  la 
execution. 

The  year  following,  a  city  of  Cyprus  being  be- 
fieged  by  the  Turks,  the  women  ran  in, crowds,  ming- 
led themfelves  with  the  foldiers,  and,  figh<ing  gal- 
lantly IR  ths  breach,  were  the  means  of  laving  their 
country. 

Under  Mahomet  11.  a  girl  of  the  iile  of  Lemnos, 
armed  with  the  fword  and  fhield  of  her  father,  who 
had  fallen  in  battle,  oppofed  the  Turks,  when  they 
had  forced  a  gate,  and  chafed  them  to  the  fhore. 

In  Hungary  the  women  diilinguiflied  themfelves 
miraculoufiy  in  a  number  of  fieges  and  bat'Ies  aga'nft 
the  Turks.  A  woman  of  Tranfylvania,  in  different 
engagements,  is  faid  to  have  kilkdiix  Janiffaries  with 
her  own  hand. 

In  the  tv/o  celebrated  fieges  of  Rhodes  and  Mal- 
ta, the  women,  ieconding  the  zeal  of  the  knights,  dif- 
covered  upon  all  occalions  the  greateft  intrepidity  ; 
DCt  only  that  impetuaus  and  temporary  impulfe  which 
defpifes  death,  but  that  cool  2nd  deliberate  fortitude 
which  can  fupport  the  continued  harJfhips,  the  toiU, 
.and  the  miferies  of  war. 


=i^j;2^ 


CHAP.  XX. 


Other  curious   ParticMhrs  .concerning  Fanaks   in   thofi 
Aires* 


Wt 


HILE  Charlemagne  fwayed  the  fceptre  in 
France,  confeiuon  was  confiidered  as  fo  abfolateiy  ner 
ceflary  to  fa!vitioQ,,thac  in  feveral  cafes,  and  partjc*, 
ulariy  at  the  point  df  death,  where  no  priefl:  or  man' 
cculd  be  had,  it  was  by  the  church  a.llowed  to  b^ 
liiade  to  a  woman. 

In  the  fixteenth  century-,  it  was  no  uncommon 
thing  for  church-livings,  the  revenues  of  abbey:^,  afli 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  *  « 
even  of  bifhoprics,  to  be  given  away  with  the  young 
ladies  as  a  portion. 

Thus  women  exercifed  a  kind  of  facerdo'cal  func- 
tion :  and,  though  they  did  not  aftually  ofliciate  at 
the  altar,  they  enjoyed  (what  many  of  the  prielfe 
therafelves  would  have  been  ghd  of)  the  emoluments 
of  the  altar,  without  the  drudgery  of  its  fervice. 

In  pofterior  ages,  women  r.ave  crept  ftill  farther 
into  the  offices  of  the  church.  The  Chriftians  of  Cir- 
caflia  allow  t'neir  nuns  to  adminifter  the  facraraent  of 
baptifra. 

When  any  material  difference  happened  between 
man  atid  man,  or  when  one  accuf^^d  another  of  a 
Cime,  the  decTion,  according  to  an  ancient  cuitom 
cftablifhed  by  law,  was  to  be  by  a  fingle  combat  or 
the  ordeal  trial.  From  boih  which  ridiculous  ways 
©f  appealing  to  heaven  women  were  exempted. 

When  a  man  had  (iiid  any  thing  that  reflefted 
dlfhonor  on  a  womah,  or  accuied  her  of  a  crime,  flie 
Was  not  obliged  to  light  him  to  prove  her  innocence : 
the  combat  would  have  been  unequal.  But  fne  might 
choole  a  champion  to  fight  in  her  caufe,  or  expofe 
himfelf  to  the  horrid  trial,  in  order  to  clear  her  repu*. 
Cation.  Such-  champions  were  generally  I'elefted  from 
her  lovers  or  friends.  But  if  (he  fixed  upon  any  oth- 
er, fo  high  was  the  Ipirit  of  mardiil  glory,  and  fj  ea- 
ger the  thirtt  of  defen.^in<::  tha  weak  and  helplefs  fex, 
that  we  meet  with  no  iiftance  of  a  chanipicn  evei^ 
having  refufed  to  fijrhr  fi  t,  rr  undergo  whatev  r  cuf- 
tom  required  in  def  iic"  ^^  ^h"  1 '  i-  v/!v-  ^v]  !>o^v  red 
him  with  the  appoinfr 

To  tb'  -^  *      ^     '  iiicmionc'^^wf  m;iy  add 

atrother.  1  inuii  inevitably  have  been 

bru'^  *    '  .  c 'lame  ol  c(»ward  :  and,  fo  defpica- 

H  edition  r.f  u  coward,  in  thole  times  of 

!  A  m,  :h..t  ^  ?ath  itCelf  appeared  the  mord 
.  ch'  -ice.  N ;  V,-  fiich  was  tae  nige  of  fight- 
ing t  .  w  .:n  .n,  that  it  occame  ruftDmary  for  thofe 
wh-o  could  noi  b^  honored  with  the  deciGjii  of  thei** 


64  SKETCHES  OF  thk  SEX. 

real  quarrels,  to  create  fiftitioiis  ones  concerning 
them,  in  order  to  create  alfo  a  neceffity  of  fighting. 

Nor  was  fighting  for  the  ladies  confined  to  fingle 
combatants.  Crowds  cf  gallants  entered  the  lifts 
againit  each  other.  Even  kings  called  out  their  fub- 
jefe,  to  ihew  their  love  to  their  miflrefles,  by  cut- 
ting tl.e  throats  of  their  neighbors,  who  had  not  in 
the  leafc  oiFended. 

^  In  the  fourteenth  century,  when  the  countefs  of 
Blois  and  the  widow  of  Moa?.tfort  were  at  war  againfl: 
each  other,  a  conference  v/as  agreed  to,  on  pretence 
cf  fettling  a  pesce,  but  in  repJity  to  appoint  a  combat. 
Inftead  of  negoclating,  they  ibon  challenged  each  oth- 
er ;  and  Beaumanoir,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the 
Britons,  pabixiy  declared  that  ti^.ey  fought  from  na 
iher  motive,  than  to  fee,  by  the  vi(ftory,  who  had 
..:e  faireLx milreis. 

In  the  fifteenth  century,  we  find  an  anecdote  of 
this  kind  ftill  more  extraordinary.  John,  duke  de. 
Bourbonnois,  publifhed  a  declaration,  that  he  would 
go  over  to  England,  with  lixteen  knights,  and  there 
fight  it  out,  in  order  to  avoid  idlenefs,  and  merit  the 
good  graces  of  his  miftrefs. 

James  IV.  of  Scotland  having,  in  all  tournaments^ 
profeifed  himfelf  knight  to  queen  Anne  of  France,  (he 
lummoned  him  to  prove  himfelf  her  true  and  valor- 
ous champion,  by  taking  the  field  in  her  defence^ 
againft  his  brother  in  law,  Henry  VIII.  of  England* 
He  obeyed  the  romantic  mandate  ;  and  the  two  na* 
tions  bled  to  feed  the  vanity  of  a  woman. 

Warriors,  when  ready  to  engage,  invoked  the 
nidof  their  miftreffes,  as  poets^do  that  of  the  Mufes. 
If  they  fought  valiantly,  it  reflefted  honor  en  the 
Dulcineas  they  adored ;  but  if  they  turned  thir  backs 
on  their  enemies,  the  poor  ladies  were  diflionored 
for  ever. 

Lcve,  was,  at  that  time,  the  raofl  prevailing  mo- 
tive to  fghtine.  Tne  famous  Gafton  de  Fcix,  who 
commanded  the  French  troops  at  the  battle  of  Ra- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  65 

venni,  took  advantage  of  this  foible  of  his  army.  He 
rode  from  rank  to  rauk,  calling  his  officers  by  name, 
add  even  fome  of  his  private  men,  recommending  to 
themtheircountr}^5theirhonor,and, above  all,  to  fnew 
what  tney  ccul.i  do  for  the  love  of  their  miftrefles. 

1  he  women  of  thofe  ages,  the  reader  may  ima- 
gine, were  cenainly  more  completely  ha]>py  than  in 
any  other  period  of  the  world.  This,  however,  was- 
uot  in  reality  the  cafe. 

Cuftoiii,  which  governs  all  things  with  the  moft 
abfclute  fway,  had,  through  a  long  fuccefiion  of  years* 
given  her  fanclion  to  fuch  combats  as  were  under- 
taken, either  to  defence  the  innocence,  or  difplay  the 
beauty  of  women.  Cuftom,  therefore  either  obliged 
a  man  to  fight  for  a  woman  who  defired  him,  or 
marked  the  refufal  with  infamy  and  disgrace.  But 
cuftom  did  not  oblige  him,  in  every  other  part  of  his 
conduct,  to  behave  to  this  woman,  or  to  the  fex  in 
general,  with  that  refpecl  and  .politenefs  w^hichhave 
happily  diftinguifhed  the  charaftcr  of  more  modern 
times. 

The  fame  man  who  would  have  encountered 
giants,  or  gigantic  difficulties,  "  when  a  lady  was  in 
file  cafe,'*  had  but  little  idea  uf  adding  to  her  happi- 
ncfs,  by  fupplying  her  with  the  comforts  and  elegan- 
cies of  life.  And,  had  Ihe  aiked  him  to  lioop,  and 
eafe  her  of  a  part  of  that  domeftic  flavery  which,  al. 
moft  in  every  country,  falls  to  the  lot  of  women,  he 
would  have  thought  himfelf  quite  afiVonted.- 

But  befides,  men  had  nothing  elfe,  in  thofe  ages, 
tiianthat  kind  of  romantic  gallrntry  to  recommend 
them.  Ip;norant  of  letters,  arts,  and  fciences,  and 
every  thing  tliat  refines:  human  nature,  they  were,  in 
every  taing  where  gallantry  was  not  concerned,  rough 
and  unpohftied  in  their  manners  and  behavior. 
The:r  time  was  fpent  in  drinking,  var,  galhntry, 
and  idlenefs.  In  their  hours  of  relaxation,  they  were 
but  little  in  company  with  their  women  ;  and  when 
they  were,  the  indelicacies  of  the  carcufal,  or  the 

Vi2 


66  SKETCHES  OF  thj:  SEX. 

cruelties  of  the  field,  were  alou^t  the  only  fubjefl^ 
they  had  to  talk  of. 

^From  the  iUbverfion  of  the  Romaic  empire,  to 
the  fourteenth  or  fifteenth  century,  women  I'pent 
moft  of  their  time  alone.  They  were  almoft  entire 
ftrangers  to  the  joys  of  focial  life.  They  feldom  went 
abroad,  but  to  be  ipeclatcrs  of  fuch  puolic  diverfions 
and  amufements  as  the  fafhicn  of  tne  times  counte- 
nanced. Francis  I.  was  the  firft  monarch  who  inlro* 
duced  them  on  public  days  to  coxin. 

Before  his  time,  nothing  was  to  be  feen  at  any 
of  the  courts  of  Eun  pe,  but  long-bearded  pohticians^ 
plotting  the  deuruftion  of  the  rights  aad  liberties  of 
mankind  ;  and  warrirrs  clad  in  complete  armour,, 
leady  to  put  their  plois  in  execution. 

In  tbe  eighth  century,  ih  flavifn  was  the  condi- 
tion of  women  on  the  one  hand,  and  lo  much  was: 
?3eavit3^  covetied  on  the  ctn.jr,  thar,  fcr  about  two 
hundrai  ye.irs,  the  kings  of  Auilria  were  obliged  to 
pay  a  tribute  to  the  Moors,  of  one  hundred  beautiful, 
virgins  per  annum. 

In  the  thirt-eenlh  and  fourteenth  Genturi(^S5  ele^ 
gance  had  fcarcely  any  exiltence,  and  even  clearlinefii: 
Wus  hardly  conn  :ered  as  laudable.  The  ufe  of  linen, 
was  nc  t  known ;  and  the  nic  ft  delicate  of  the  fair  fex 
were  wojJen  iliilts,. 

In  the  tim^  of  Henry  VIII..  the  peers  of  ihe  realm, 
carried  their  wives  behind  ihem  on  horfeback,  when 
they  went  London  ;  and,  in  the  fame  manner,  took 
them  back  to  their  country  feats,  with  hoods  of  wax- 
ed linen  over  their  heads,  ard  wrapped  in  mantles  of 
^loth,  to  fecure  them  from  t)nx  cold. 

'liK-re  was  one  misfortune  ef  a  ftngular  naturjj^ 
to  which  women  wire  liable  in  thoie  days :  they  were- 
in  perpetual  danger  of  being  ace uled  of  witchcraft, 
ard  iuffering  v\\  the  cruelties  and  iodigHities-of  a  mob, 
in(lii:ated  by  fupeiftition  aod  direfted  by  enthufiafm;. 
QrcF  being  condemned  by  lav/s,  which  were  at  once 
a  dil^race  to  humanity  and  to.fenfe*  Jivea  the  blooiu 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX-  67 

of  youth  and  beauty  could  not  lecure  them  from  tor*, 
lure  and  from  death.  But  when  age  and  wrinkles 
attacked  a  woman,  if  any  thing  uncommon  happened 
in  her  neighborhood,  (he  was  almcft  fure  of  atoninij 
with  her  life,  for  a  crime  it  was  impollible  for  her  to 
commit. 


-i^^^ 


CHAP.  XXL 

Of  the  Arabian  JVomen^ 


X.  HE  confequence  of  the  women  in  Arabia  was 
annihilated  by  Mahomet.    But  before  his  time  they 
feem  to  have  poil'efTed  privileges  hardly  inferior  to 
ihofe  with  which  they  are  honoured  in  i  he  poUteii. 
countries  of  Enrope. 

The  law  gave  them  a  right  tSnndependent  prop- 
erty, either  by  inheritance,  by  gift,  or  by  marriage 
iettlement.  llie  wire  had  a  regular  dower,  and  an 
annual  allowance,  which  (he  might  difpofe  of  in  her 
Cfe-time,  or  at  her  death. 

To  the  fortune  he  received  with  his  wife  Cad- 
hign,  who  carried  on  an  exieofive  trade  to  Spain  and 
Syria,  Ma'iomet  himftlf  was  indebted  for  the  origin 
ct  his  wealth  and  grandeur. 

While  his  fefit  was  inrreafing,  the  women  of  rank 
took  an  active  part  both  in  civil  and  military  affairs. 
Several  of  them  liroDgly  oppofed  all  his  innovations. 
Henda,  accompanied  by  fifteen  other  ladies  of  dif- 
tiixtioR,  contributed  to  his  defeat  ut  the  battle  of 
hod.  After  his  death,  Ayefha,  one  of  his  widows, 
V  her  influence  and  addreis,  railed  her  father  Abu* 
Itker  to  be  the  fucceflbr  of  her  hu(band.> 

But  the  religion  which  taught  that  women  were 
only  mere  objefts  of-  pleafure,  and  the  maxims  which 
dictated  that  they  fliould  be  gu^irded  for  tn:it  particu-» 
br  f  urpofe,  now  becoming  general,  in  little  mere  than 


63  SKETCHES  o^  the  SEX. 

a  century  they  leera  to  have  dwindled  from  crea- 
tures of  importarxce,  to  beings  only  confecrated  to 
dalliance  and  love. 

Such  were  the  confequences  of  Mahometanifm. 
But  no  innovation  th^t  could  happen  in  the  ages  in 
which  it  was  introduced,  need  much  furpriie  us. 
The  politics  of  the  Arabians  were  then  regulated  by 
no  fixed  principles.  Their  religion  had  dilgufted  the 
mind  with  idle  articles  of  belief,  and  improbable  fic- 
tions. This  was  not  the  cafe  in  i^rabia  only:  hu- 
man nature,  as  was  before  obferved,  feemed  every 
where  in  a  ftate  of  wavering  and  imbecility.  In  Eu- 
rope it  endeavoured  to  blend  the  meek  and  forgiving 
fpirit  of  the  religion  of  Jefus,  with  the  fierce  and  in- 
tolerant fpirit  of  war  and  bloodflied  ;  and  the  fame 
tender  fentiment  which  bound  a  lover  to  his  miftrefs,, 
inftigated  him,  in  the  moft  favage  manner,  to  cut  the 
throats  of  all  thofe  who  openly  profeiTed  either  to 
loTcor  hate  her. 


^::i2^= 


CHAP.  XXIL 

On  the  Learning  of  JVometL. 


Vy  HEN  Chivalry  began  to  decline  in  Europe,  ir 
left  behind  it  a  tinfture  of  romantic  gallantry  iu  the 
manners,  which  communicated  itfelf  to  the  v/orks  of 
imagination. 

Many  verfes  were  then  written,  expreffive  of 
paffions  either  real  or  feigned,  but  always  refpeftful 
and  tender.  In  France,  v/here  the  difiipated  nobili- 
ty fpent  their  life  in  war,  love  was  generally  painted 
under  the  idea  of  conqueft.  In  Italy,  where  another 
fet  of  ideas  prevailed,  it  was  always  reprefented  as  an 
adoration  or  worfhip. 

This  confufion  of  religion  and  gallantry,  of  Pla- 


SKETCHES  OP  the  SEX.  69 

tcnifm  nnd  poetry,  of  the  ftudy  of  the  languages  and 
of  the  laws,  of  the  ancient  philofophy  and  the  modern 
theology,  formed  the  general  chaiatter  of  the  moft 
illuftrious  men  of  ihofe  times.  The  lame  obfervation 
may  be  extended  to  the  moft  celebrated  women. 

Never  were  the  women  fo  univerfally  difttin- 
guifhed  for  profound  learning,  as  in  this  period.  Per- 
haps, as  it  follov/ed  the  ages  of  chivalry,  when  feveral 
women  had  difputed  with  men  the-  prize  of  valour, 
being  defircus  to  eltablifh  the  equality  of  their  fex  in 
all  things,  they  were  ambitious  to  prove  that  they  had 
as  much  genius  as  courage  ;  and  to  iubjeft,  even  by 
their  talents,  thofe  over  whom  they  reigned  by  their 
beauty^ 

The  general  fpirit  of  this  period  is  worthy  of  obfer- 
vation .  We  mi  g  r.  t  then  have  Teen  women  preaching  jand 
mix:  ig  themfelves  in  coitroverfies  ;  women  occupy- 
ing tiie  chairs  or' philofophy  and  of  juftxe;  womea 
haranguing  in  L:uin  before  the  Pope  \  women  wri- 
ting in  Greek,  and  ftudying  Hebrew.  Nuns  v/ere 
poeteffes,  and  women  of  quality  divines.  And  young 
girls,  who  had  fludied  eloquence,  would,  with  the 
fwecrteft  countenances,  and  the  moft  plaintive  voices 
in  the  world,  go  and  pathetically  exhort  the  pope  and 
the  Chriftian  princes  to  declare  war  againft  the  Turks. 

The  religious  fpirit,  which  has  animated  women 
in  all  ages,  (hewed  itfelf  at  this  time  ;  but  it  changed 
its  form.  It  had  made  them,  by  turns,  martyrs, 
apoftles,  warriors,  and  concluded  m  making  them  di- 
rines  and  fcholars. 

An  incredible  value  wa<;  flill  fet  on  the  ftudy  of 
t.v;:guages.  In  private  fariiilies,  in  the  convents,  in 
the  courts,  and  even  upon  thrones,  the  fame  tafte 
reigned.  It  was  but  a  p:)or  qualification  for  a  woman 
to  read  Virgil  and  Cicero.  The  mouth  of  a  young 
Italian,  Spanifh,  or  Britifh  lady  feeine-^  adorned  witri 
a  particular  grjce,  when  fh?  repeated  fome  Hebrew 
phrafe,  or  thundered  out  fome  verf^^s  of  Homer. 

Poetry,  fo  charming  to  the  imagination  and  to 


:^6  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

iufceptible  hearts,  was  embrr.eed  with  ardcur  by  the 
women.  It  was  a  cew  and  pleafing  exertion  ot  tal- 
entc,  which  flattered  felf-love,  and  amufed  the  mind, 
-Perhaps,  too,  that  want  which  they  experienced,  even 
without  fufpecting  it,  in  a  fubtle  philofophy,  an  ab- 
ftradt  theology,  and  an  empty  ftudy  of  diak  fts  and  of 
founds,  would  make  them  more  fenfible  to  the  charms 
of  an  art,  which  continually  feeds  the  imagination 
with  its  images,  and  the  heart  with  its  feniiments. 

I  Ihall  particularize  a  few  of  the  women  who 
were  moft  celebrated  for  their  learning  and  talents  ia 
that  period. 

In  the  thirteenth  century,  a  young  lady  of  Bol^ 
ogna  devoted  herfelf  to  the  iiudy  of  the  Latin  lan- 
guage, and  of  the  laws.  At  the  age  of  t-wenty-thr-ec-, 
ihe  pronounced  a  funeral  oration  in  Latin  in  the  great 
ciiurch  of  Bologna  ;  and,  to  be  admitted  as  an  ora- 
tor, ihe  had  neither  need  of  indulgence,  on  account 
of  her  youth,  nor  of  her  fex.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
fix,  fhe  took  the  degree  of  a  docT:or  of  laws,^and  be- 
gan publicly  to  expound  the  Inftitutions  of  JuPdn« 
ian.  At  the  ag€  of  thirty,  her  great  reputation  raifr 
ed  her  to  a  chair,  where  fhe  taught  the  law  to  a  pro- 
digious concourie  of  fcholars  from  ail  nations.  She 
joined  the  charms  and  accomplifhments  of  a  v/omaii 
to  all  the  knowledge  of  a  man.  But  fuchwas.the 
power  of  her  eloquence^  that  her  kmity  was  only  ad- 
mired when  her  tongue  was  filent. 

In  the  fourteenth  century,  a  like  example  wa^ 
exhibited  in  that  city.  In  the  fifteenth  century,  the 
farae  prodigy  appeared  there  a  tiiird  timV.  And,  ev- 
en at  this  day,  in  the  city  of  Bolcgna,  there  is  ftill  a 
Uarned  chair  filled  with  honor  by  a  woman. 

At  Venice,  in  the  ccurfe  of  the  fixteenlh  cen- 
tury, two  celebrated  women  attraft  (ur  notice.  The 
one  *  compoled  fuccefsfully  a  great  number  of  pieces 
in  verfe,  ferious,  comic,  heroic,  and  tender ;  and  fome 
fajforals^  which  were  much  admired.     The  other  t:^ 

*  Modcfta  di  Voiti  di  Zori.  f  Caipudra  FTdcIe*, 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  7t 

vrho  was  ona  of  the  mofl  le:iriied  women  of  Italy, 
wrote  equilty  well  the  three  languages  of  Homer, 
Virgil,  and  IJAnte,  and  in  verfe  as  well  as  in  prole- 
She  pofTeffid  all  the  philofophy  of  her  own,  and  of 
the  preceding  ages.  By  her  graces,  ihe  even  embel- 
lirtied  theology.  She  fupporte J  thc/es  with  the  greats 
ejl  luftre.  She  gave  public  lectures  at  Padua.  She 
joined  to  her  ferious  itudies  the  elegant  arts,  particu- 
larly muGc ;  and  fofteaed  her  learning  iiill  farther  by 
her  manners.  She  received  homage  from  fovereigii 
pontiffs  and  fovereign  prirxes  ;  and,  that  fne  might 
be  fmgular  in  all  things,  fhe  lived  upwards  of  a  century. 

At  Verona,  Iffotta  Nogarolla  acquired  fo  greit  a 
reputation  by  her  eloquence,  that  kings  were  curious 
to  lilten,  and  fcholars  to  attend,  to  hear,  and  to  fee. 

At  Florence,  a  nuo  of  the  houfe  of  Strozzi  dif- 
pelled  the  languor  and  indolence  of  the  cloifter  by  her 
Uftc  for  Intas  ;  and,  in  her  folitude,  was  known 
ever  Iralv.  Germany,  and  France. 

At  Maples,  Sarrochia  compofed  a  celebrated  po- 
em upon  Scandetjerg  ;  and,  in  her  life-time,  was 
compared  to  Boyardo  and  to  Taffo. 

At  Rome,  we  find  Victoria  Colonna,  marchion- 
cfs  of  Pefcaira,  who  p.iiuonately  bved  and  fuccefs- 
fully  cultivated  letters.  While  {Mil  young,  fhe  be- 
^•ailed  the  lofs  of  a  hufbmd,  who  was  a  great  war- 
rior, and  paffed  tbe  remainder  of  her  life  m  ftudy 
and  melixholy^  celebrating,  in  tlie  moft  tender  po- 
etry, th:^  hero  whom  fhe  loved. 

Diiiiig  the  fame  age,  among  the  illuftrious  wo- 
rsen of  all  ages,  we  find  every  where  the  fame  charac- 
ter, and  the  fame  kindof  Rudies. 

In  Spain,  Ifibdla  of  Rol'era  preadied  in  fhe  great 
cfcurch  of  Barcelona,  came  to  Rome  under  Paul  the 
Third,  and  converted  the  Jews  by  her  eloquence. 
Ifabella  of  Cardoua  un  ^erflbod  the  Latin, Greek,  and 
Hebrew;  and,  though  poflelled  of  beauty,  reputa- 
tion, and  ricrhes,  had  (till  (he  fancy  to  be  a <^<7r,  aod 
tqok  h^  degrees  in  the^loj^j. 


7Z  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX- 

In  France  we  fee  leveral  women  poiTefled  of  al! 
the  learning  of  the  ti-r.es,  particularly  thedutchefs  of 
Retz,  who  under  Charles  IX.  was  celebrated  evenia 
Italy,  and  who  aftoaiih^d  the  Polifli  nobility,  when 
they  came  to  demand  the  duke  of- Anjou  for  their 
king.  They  beheld  with  wonder,  at  court,  a  young 
lady  fo  intelligent,  and  who  Ipoke  the  ancient  lan- 
guages with  no  lefs  purity  than  grace. 

In  England,  we  meet  with  the  three  Seymours, 
fitters,  nieces  to  a  king,  and  daughters  to  a  Regent, 
all  celebrated  for  their  learning,  and  for  their  elegant 
Latin  verfes,  which  were  tranllated  and  repeated  all 
over  Europe. 

Jane  Gray,  whofe  elevation  to  the  throne  was 
only  a  ftep  to  the  fcaffold,  read  before  her  death, 
in  Greeks  Plato's  Dialogue  on  the  Immortality  of  the 
Soul. 

The  eldeft  daughter  of  the  illuflrious  chancellor 
Sir  Thomas  More,  was  a  wife  and  amiable  lady. 
Her  learning  was  almoft  eclipfed  by  her  virtues.  She 
correfponded  in  Lafi?i  with  the  great  Erafmus,  who 
ftylcd  her  the  ornament  of  Briton.  After  fhe  had 
confoled  her  father  in  priion,  had  rufhed  through  the 
guards  to  fnatch  a  laft  embrace,  had  obtained  the  lib- 
erty of  paying  him  Juneral  honours,  had  purchafed 
his  '^'iead  with  gold-— fhe  was  herfelf  loaded  with 
fetters  for  two  crimes — for  having  kept  the  head  of  her 
father  as  a  relic,  and  for  having  preferved  his  books 
and  writings.  She  a^pe^.red  before  her  judges  with 
intrepidity,  juflified  herfelf  with  that  eloquence  which 
virtue  beftows  on  injured  merit,  comm.anded  admira- 
tion and  refpect,  and  pafled  the  reft  of  her  life  in  re- 
tirement, in  melancholy,  and  in  ftudy. 

We  behold  in  Scorlind,  Mary  Stuart,  heir  of 
that  crown,  the  moft  beautiful  wom.an  of  her  age, 
•and  one  of  the  moft  learned,  who  could  v/rite  and 
fpeak  Jix  l-^.nguages,  who  made  eleg?.nt  verfes  in 
French,  and  who,  when  very  y^ung,  delivered  an 
cration  in  Latin,  to  the  court  of  i  rance^  to  prove  that 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  73 

the  ftudy  of  letters  is  confiftent  with  the  female  char- 
after.  So  lovely  and  fo  happy  an  example  of  the 
truth  which  fhe  advanced,  could  not  fail  to  con- 
vince. Mary  added  to  her  learning  a  del'cate  tafte 
in  the  polite  arts,  particularly  mufic,  and  adorned  the 
whole  with  the  moll  feminine  courtly  manners. 

What  has  fv^ce  been  called  Jlciety  was  not  then 
indeed  fo  much  known.  Luxury,  and  the  w^ant  of 
occupation,  had  not  introduced  the  cuftom  of  fitting 
five  or  4ix  hours  before  a  glafs,  to  invent  fafhions. 
Some  ufe  was  made  of  time.  Hence  that  variety  of 
languages,  arts,  and  fciences,  which  were  acquired 
by  women. 

It  is  but  juft,  however,  to  obf^rve,  that  the  vani- 
ty of  undertaking  every  thing  is  peculiar  to  the  infan- 
cy of  letters.  In  childnood,  all  the  world  over- rate 
their  powers.  It  is  only  by  meafuring  them  that  we 
come  to  know  them.  ^  The  defires  themfeives  were 
then  more  eafily  fatisfied  than  the  thirit  of  learning. 
People  were  more  anxious  to  know  than  to  think  ; 
and  the  mind,  more  adive  than  extended,  was  unable 
to  comprehend  the  fecrets,  or  reach  the  depth  of  the 
fciences. 


I 


CHAP.  XXIIi 
0/  the  European  Women* 


__N  all  polifhed  nations,  chaftity  has  ever  been  cf- 
teemed  the  principle  ornament  of  the  female  charac- 
ter. For  this  virtue  the  European  ladies  are  very 
eminent.  Their  conduft  is  influenced  by  a  veneration 
for  that  purity  cf  manners  and  of  charafter,  fo  llrong- 
ly  inculcated  by  the  precepts  of  ihe  Chriftian  religion. 
We  m'4yjuflly  affert  that  Kuropr ,  ir  general,  is  more 
famou?^  for  thecHaflity  and  other  good  qualities  of  itg 
wom'^n,  than  any  -^ther  part  of  the  globe. 

TTie  virtues  of  moiefty  and  chaftity,  however, 
do  not  net  flourilh  moft,  where  they  are  attempted 
VII 


74  SKETCHES  ©F  THE  SEX., 

to  be  torcedxipon  the  women  by  locks,  bars,  and 
governaiites,  as  in  Spain;  nor  where  unreftrained lib- 
erty and  politenefs  are  carried  to  the  greateft  length, 
as-  in  Frarxe  and  Italy  ;  b^at  rather  where  refinement 
k  not  arrived  ib  far,  as  to  reckon  every  rellraint  up- 
Oil  iuclinaiion  a  mark  of  ill-breeding. 


T^^Pi^ 


CHAP.  XXIV. 

Of  the  Frcnd)  Women* 


HOUGH  the  ladies  of  France  are  not  very 

haudfoiiie,  they  are  fenfible  and  witty.  To  many  of 
them,  without  the  leaft  flattery,  may  be  applied  the 
diilich  which  Sappho  afcribes  toherfelf : 

*'  Si  mihi  difficilis  formam  natura  negavit, 
*^  Ingenio  formse  darana  rependo  me^.*' 

•   If  partial  nature  has  denied  me  beauty^   the  charms   of 
fny  mind  amply  make  up  for  the  deficiency • 

No  women  upon  earth  can  excel,  and  few  rival 
them,  i.i  their  almoft  native  arts  of  pleafing  all  who 
approach  them.  Add  to  this,  an  education  beyond 
that  of  moft  Europ^rn  ladies,  a  confummate  /kill  in 
thofe  accomplifhrneits  that  fuit  the  fair  fex,  and  the 
mou  graceful  manner  of  displaying  that  knowledge 
to  the;  utmoil  advantage. 

Such  is  the  defcription  that  may  fafdy  be  given 
of  the  French  ladies  in  general.  But  the'  fpirit,  or 
rather  the  evU genius  of  gallantry,  too  often  perverts 
all  thefe  lovely  qualities,  and  renders  them  fubfervient 
to  very  iniquitous  ends. 

In  every  country,  women  have  always  a  Kt^le  to 
do,  and  a  great  deal  to  fay.  In  France,  they  diftate 
almoft  every  thing  that  is  faid,  and  direft  every  thing 
that  is  done.  They  are  the  mcft  reftlefs  beings  in  the 
world.  To  fold  her  hands  in  idlenefs,  and  impofe 
iilence  on  hsr  tongue,  would  b©  to  a  Freuch  womau 


SKETCHES  or  the  SEX.  75 

xvorfe  than  death.  The  fcle  joy  of  her  life  is  to  be 
engaged  in  the  profecution  of  Ibme  fcheme,  relating 
eitncr  to  falhion,  ambiiion,  or  love. 

Among  the  rich  and  opulent,  they  are  entirely 
the  votaries  of  pleafiire,  wnich  they  purfue  through 
all  its  labyrinths,  at  theexpenfe  of  fortune,  reputa- 
tion, and  health.  Giddy  and  extravagant  ro  the  latl 
degree,  they  leave  to  their  hufbands  oeconomy  and 
care,  which  would  only  fpoil  their  complexions,  and 
furrow  their  brows. 

When  we  defcend  to  tradefmen  and  mechanics, 
the  cafe  is  reverfed  :  the  wife  manages  every  thing  in 
the  houfe  and  fliop,  while  the  hulband  lounges  in  the 
b:.ck-(hop  an  idle  I'peftator,  or  ftruts  about  with  his 
fword  and  bag- wig. 

Matrimony  among  the  French,  feems  to  be  a 
bargain  enterea  into  by  a  male  and  iemale  to  bear 
the  lame  name,  live  in  the  fame  houie,  and  purine 
their  feparate  pleafures  without  reicrai.^t  or  control. 
And,  fo  reUgioufly  is  this  part  of  thebargain  kept,  that 
both  p'.rties  fliape  their  ccurfe  exaftly  as  convenience 
and  inclmation  diftate. 

There  is  no  part  of  the  world,  however,  where 
the  company  of  men  of  letters  is  more  acceptable  to 
the  fair  fex  than  in  France.  This  circumltance  dif- 
fufes  knowledge  among  the  v/omen,  gives  an  elegance 
and  cheerfulnefs  to  the  men,  and  renders  thera 
mm  of  the  worlrl  as  well  as  of  learning.  So^'reat  isie- 
1:1:  ^':  influence  over  literature,  as  w.  11  as  over  every 
ether  thing  in  France,  that  by  far  the  molt  confid:  r- 
able  part  of  the  produftions  of  the  prefs  are  calcula- 
ted for  their  capac'ty. 

In  no  country  does  real  p-^litenefs  ihew  itf  Ifmore 
than  in  France,  where  the  company  of  the  v/omen  is 
acceflible  to  every  man  who  can  recommend  himielf 
by  his  drefs,  and  I  y  hisaddrels.  To  uftc<^aticn  and[ 
prudery  the  French  women  are  equpjly  flrangers. 
Kafv  and  unn  "  -^  their  manners,  th  irpolitenef? 

haslo  much  v..     _  ^     ranee  of  nature,  that  one  woul  .1 


76  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

almoft  believe  no  part  of  it  to  be  the  effect  of  art. 
An  air  of  IprigntlineCs  and  gaity  fels  perpetually  on 
their  countenHncep,  and  their  whole  deportment  Teems 
to  indicate  that  their  only  bufinefsis  to  "  ftrew  the 
path  of  life  with  fljwers."  Perfu  fion  iiangs  on  their 
lips;  aad,  though  their  volubility  of  tongue  is  inde- 
2tr^able,  ib  (oft  is  their  accent,  fo  lively  their  expref- 
iiOn,fo  various  their  altitudes,  that  they  fix  the  at- 
teution  for  hours  together  on  a  tale  of  nothing. 

The  Jewifh  doctors  have  a  fable  concertiing  the 
etymology  of  the  word  Eve,  which  one  would  almoft 
be  tempted  to  fay  is  realized  in  the  French  women. 
*'  Eve,'*  fay  they,  **  comes  from  a  word,  which  fjg- 
aifies  to  talk;  and  fhe  was  fo  called,  becaufe,  foon 
after  the  creation,  there  fell  from  heaven  twelve  baf- 
kets  full  of  chit  chat,  and  fhe  picked  up  nine  of  them, 
wiiile  her  hufband  was  gathering  the  other  threeJ^ 

The  wind,  or  the  fafhions  v/hich  fhe  follows,  are 
hardly  more  inconfiftect  than  a  French  lady's  mind. 
Her  f:;le  JGy  is  in  the  number  of  her  admirers,  and 
her  ibie  pride  in  chang'ng  them  as  often  as  poffible. 
Over  the  whole  of  them  (he  exercifes  the  moft  abfo- 
luttpov/er,  anc}  they  are  z-ealoufly  attentive  even  to 
prevent  her  wifhes,  by  performing  vhatever  they 
think  fhe  has  any  inclination  to.  Their  time,  their 
interefl,  and  aftivity,  are  wholly  devoted  to  her  will, 
or  ratlier  to  her  caprice.  Even  the  purfe,  that  moft 
i  .acceflible  thing  about  a  Frenchman,  muft  pouir  out 
its  laft  fous,  at  the  call  of  his  miilrefs.  Should  he 
fail  in  this  particular,  he  would  immediately  be  dif- 
carded  from  her  ^j;;-^  -;*^,  *^\-  ^^i^  Cf  halving 

preferred  Mercury  to  Venus. 

While  a  French  woman  is  able  to  drink  at  the 
ftream  cf  pleafure,  fhe  is  generally  an  athcift.  As 
her  tafie  for  that  diminifhes,  (he  becomes  gra''ually 
religious ;  and  when  fhe  has  loft  it  altogether,  is 
the  moft  bigotted  devotee. 

Upon  the  whole,  French  females  rather  facrifice 
too  much  of  their  delicacy  to  wit,  and  of  their  chafti* 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  77 

ty  to  good-breediog.  They  pay  too  little  regard  to 
their  charafter,  and  too  much  to  a  ridiculous  opinion 
that  fafhionable  people  are  above  it.  They  are  too 
much  the  creatures  of  art,  and  have  almcft  difcarded 
nature  as  much  from  their  feelings  as  from  their  faces. 

To  what  has  been  {'aid  en  this  fubjeft,  1  ihall 
only  add  the  following  entertaining  defcription  cr 
French  gallantrv,  and  French  manners. 

"A  Frenchman,''  fays  an  ingenious  writer, 
*.[r^Ques  himfelf  upon  being  polifhed  above  the  na- 
tives of  aiiy  other  country,  by  his  converlktiou  witht 
the  fair  fex.  In  the  courfe  of  this  communication, 
with  which  he  is  indulged  from  his  tender  years,  he^ 
learns,  like  a  parrot,  by  rote,  the  wh^le  circle  of 
French  compliments,  which  area  fet  of  phrafes,  ridi- 
rulous  even  to  a  proverb ;  and  thefe  he  throws  out 
indifcriminately  to  all  women  without  diltinftion,  in 
the  exercife  of  that  kind  of  addrefs,  which  is  here 
diftinguifhed  by  the  name  of  gallantry.  It  is  an  ex- 
ercife, by  the  repetition  of  which  he  becomes  very 
pert,  very  familiar,  and  very  impertinent. 

"  A  Frenchman,  in  confequence  of  his  mingling 
with  the  females  from  his  infancy,  not  r.nly  becomes 
acquainted  with  all  their  cuftrms  and  humors,  bun 
grows  wonderfully  alert  in  performing  a  thcufand  lit- 
tle offices,  which  are  overlooked  by  otiu  r  men,  whofe 
time  has  been  fpent  in  making  more  valuable  acquifi- 
I'ons*  He  enters,  without  ceremony  a  lady's  bed- 
namber^  attends  her  at  htr  toilette,  regulates  the 
diftributnn  of  her  patches,  and  advifes  where  to  by 
on  the  paint.  If  he  vifits  her  v/hen  (he  is  drcfled,  and 
percrives  the  leaft  impropriety  in  her  coiffure,  he  in- 
fills upon  adjufling  it  with  his  own  h mds.  1 1  he  fe?s 
a  curl,  or  even  a  fingle  hair  amils,  he  nro^^uces  his 
comb,  his  rcflars,and  pomatum,  and  fet's  it  to  rights 
with  the  dexterity  of  a  profefled  frizeur.  He  fquires 
her  to  every  place  fhe  villts,  Hthercn  bufinefs  or 
pleafure  ;  and  by  dedicating  his  whole  time  to  her, 
renders  himfelf  neceffarv  to  her  occafions.    In  ihcrt! 

'VII  2 


78  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

of  all  the  coxcombs  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  a  French 
petit-maitre  is  the  moil  impertinent.  And  they  are 
r.ll  petits-nraitres,  from  themarquis  who  glitters  in  lace 
and  embroidery,  to  the  garcon  barbiere  (barber's 
boy)  covertd  with  meal,  who  ftruts  with  his  hair  in  a 
long  queue,  and  his  hat  under  his  arm. 

''  I  Ihall  only  mention  one  cultom  more,  which 
feenis  to  carry  human  affectation  to  the  very  fartheft 
verge  of  folly^and  extravagance  :  that  is,  the  manner 
m  which  the  f ?x  s  of  the  ladies  are  primed  and  paint- 
ed. It  is  generally  fuppofed  that  part  of  the  fair  (ex, 
in  feme  othtr  couxitries,  make  ule  of  fard  and  vermil- 
iion  for  very  dilF.rent  purpofes ;  namely,  to  help  a 
bid  or  laded  complexion,  to  heighten  the  graces,  or 
conceal  the  defefts  of  nature,  as  well  as  of  the  rava- 
ges of  tiiiie.  I  Ihall  net  inquire  whether  it  isjuft 
and  honefh  to  impofe  in  this  manner  on  mankind.  If  it 
IS  not  hcneft,  it  m-iy  be  allowed  to  be  artful  and  po- 
litic,  and  fhews,  at  leaft,  a  defire  of  being  agreeable. 
Bat  to  lay  it  on  as  the  fafnion  in  France  prefcribes  to 
all  the  laaies  of  condition,  who  indeed  cannot  appear 
without  this  badge  of  dift:nftion,  is  todifguife  them- 
f-ive*^  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  render  them  odious  and 
det'fraole  to  every  fpeftator  who  h-rs  the  1  aft  relifh 
kf t  for  nnture  and  pre pri:ty.  As  for  the  fard,  or 
white,  v/ith  v/h*:ch  their  necks  and  flioulders  are 
piaiftered,  it  may  be  in  feme  meafure  excuiable,  as 
their  ildnr  are  na'turally  brown  or  fallow.  But  the 
rcuge  wlr.ch  is  dau'  ed'  on  their  faces,  from  the  chiit 
n  to,  the  eyes,  without  the  leaPc  art  or  dexterity,  not ' 
'-ly  ddtroys  all  diftinaicn  of  features,  but  renders 
ihe'arpc-cl  really  frigllfal,  or  at  lead  conveys  nothing 
bm  ideas  of  dilguft  and  averfion.  Without  this  hor- 
r-l;!c  m::ik,  no  married  l.idy  is  admitted  at  court,  cr, 
in  any  po'ite  rifimbly  ;  ana  it  is  a  mark  of  dilUcdicn 
which -ucne  of  the  lower  clafTes  dare  afiume.'* 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  79 

CHAP.  XXV, 

Of  the  Italian  Women. 

JL  HE  elegant  surhor  Dr.  GoUrmith  thus  charac- 
tenles  the  Italians  in  geaeral : 

"  CoulJ  nature's  bounty  fatisfy  the  breafl:^ 
The  fous  of  Italy  wcre  I'urely  bleft. 
Whatever  fruitj  in  diiFereot  climes  are  found, 
That  pi'ouJly  rife,  or  humbly  court  the  ground ; 
Wnarever  bloorns  in  torrid  tracls  appear, 
Whole  bright  lucceffioa  decks  the  varied  year  : 
Whatever  iweets  folare  the  northern  iky. 
With  vern;il  leaves  that  bloflbm  but  to  die : 
Thefe  here  difportin^,  own  the  kindred  foil, 
Nor  aik  luxuriance  from  their  planter's  toil ; 
While  lea-born  gales  their  gelid  wings  expand, 
To  w  nnow  fragrance  r  ;uLd  the  imibng  land, 

"  But  Imall  the  blifs  that  fenfi  alone  bellows. 
And  fenfual  blifs  is  all  tlie  nation  knows. 
In  florid  beauty  groves  and  fiel  is  appear, 
Man  leems  the  only  growth  that  dwindles  here. 
Coatr'r^ited  faults  thro*  all  his  manners  reign  ; 
Though  poor,  luxurious  ;  though  fubmifiive,  vain ; 
Though  grave,  yet  trifling  ;  ze.^lous,  yet  untrue  j 
And  e'en  in  penance  plaunmg  fins  anew. 
All  evils  here  contaminate  the  mind, 
That  op'ilence  departed  leaves  behind  : 
For  wealth  was  theirs,  not  fjr  re:novM  the  date. 
When  cr>ramerce  prou  :!ly  flourifti'd  thro'  the  Itate  ; 
-     -nd  the  pal  celearn'd  torife, 
-fV.li'u  CLlumn  fought  the  /kies; 
1  iiC  ^.iiivcii  glow'd,  beyond  e'en  nature  warm ; 
'i  i^e  pre  |/nant  quarry  teeni'd  with  human  formt 
1 :  ',  '-        'f  i!  f  !  ly  than  the  fcu*h^rn  gale, 
(  -jniii,  (c  o\\  0  rjr  fho;es  difplay'd  her  fail ; 
While  naught  rcmain'd  of  all  that  riches  gave. 
But  towns  unmann'd,  and  lords  without  a  flavc ; 


3o  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

And  late  the  nation  found,  with  fruitlefs  ikill. 
Its  former  ftrength  was  but  plethoric  ill. 

"  Yet  ftill  the  lofs  of  wealth  is  here  fupplied 
By  arts,  the  fplendid  wrecks  of  former  pride ; 
From  thefe  the  feeble  heart  and  long-fairnmind 
An  eafy  compenfation  feem  to  find. 
Here  may  be  feen  in  bloodlefs  pomp  array'd, 
The  pafteboard  triumph,  and  the  cavalcade ; 
Proceflions  form'd  for  piety  and  love, 
A  miftrefs  or  a  faint  in  every  grove.'* 

Almofi  every  traveller  who  has  vifited  Italy ,^ 
agrees  in  defcribing  it  as  the  mod  abandoned  of  all 
the  countries  of  Europe.  At  Venice,  at  Naples,  and 
kideed  in  almoft  every  part  of  Italy,  women  are 
taught  from  their  infancy  the  various  arts  of  alluring 
to  their  arms  the  young  and  unwary,  and  of  ob- 
taining from  them,  while  heated  by  love  or  wine,  ev-' 
ery  thing  that  flattery  and  falfe  fmiles  can  obtain,  ia 
thefe  unguarded  moments. 

The  Italian  ladies  are  not  quite  fo  gay  and  vola- 
tile as  the  French,  nor  do  they  fo  much  excite  the 
rifibility  of  the  fpeftator ;  but,  by  the  foftnefs  of 
their  language,  and  their  manner,  they  more 
forcibly  engage  the  heart.  They  are  not  fo  much 
the  cameleon  or  the  weathercock,  but  have  fome  de- 
cent degree  of  permanency  in  their  connexions, 
whether  of  love  or  friendihip.  With  regard  to  jeal- 
Gufy,  they  are  fo  far  from  being  carelefs  and  indiffer- 
ent, in  that  refpeft,  as  the  French  are,  that  they  often 
fuffer  it  to  traafport  them  to  the  moft  unwarrantable 
aftions. 

The  Italian  women  are  far  preferable  to  the 
French  in  point  of  exterior  charms  ;  but  their  educa- 
tion is,  in  general,  moft  fcandaloufiy  ne^lefted.  Thofe 
accomplifhments,  which  render  the  ladies  in  England 
and  in  France  fo  acceptable  in  company,  are  but  rare- 
ly found  among  the  Italians,  who  depend  chiefly  on 
their  native  fubtlety  and  fineff?,  to  ingratiate  them- 
felves  with  fuch  as  they  deem  worthy  of  their  notice* 


SKETCHES  OF    the  SEX.  tt 

Love,  in  Italy,  meets  with  very  fmall  encour- 
agement from  the  great.  That  ir.mjcent,  pure,  and 
fentimeutal  paflion,  which  the  facftion  of  fcricleft  vir- 
tue aurhcrifes,  is  almoft  obUterated  among  them. 
1  he  fordid  motives,  which  to  the  difgr^ce  of  moft 
nations,  have  fo  much  undue  influence  over  them  in 
their  matrimonial  ccnneftions,  are  dill  much  more 
Infamoufly  prevalent  among  the  nobility  and  gejitry 
of  Italy. 

An  Italian  female  of  birth  and  fortune,  bred  in 
the  priibn  of  a  cloifter,  is  brought  forth,  when  mar- 
riageable, to  receive  her  fentence  ;  and  condufted 
like  a  viftim  to  the  altar,  there  to  be  made  a  facrifice 
to  a  man  of  whom  fhe  hardly  knows  the  face. 
Among  them,  we  find  none  of  thofe  antecedent  hom- 
ages of  a  lover,  none  of  thofe  engaging  proofs  of  at- 
tachment, which  only  can  fecure  a  reciprocation.  In 
(hort,  no  medium  of  courtfhip  intervenes,  and  there- 
fore no  opportunity  is  given  to  create  an  afftftion  on 
either  fide. 

There  exifls  in  Italy  a  fpecics  of  beings  unknoi^Ti 
throughout  the  reft  oF  Europe  ;  who,  though  their 
rife  be  not  remotely  diitant,  have  wrought  a  change 
in  the  temper  and  manners  of  the  Italians,  that  ren- 
ders them,  in  fome  refpects,  a  people  totally  different 
from  what  they  were  a  century  ago.  Thefe  beings 
are  well  known  by  the  name  cicifieys^  and  iTiay  be 
confidered  in  the  light  of  affiftants  and  fubftitutes  to 
thofe  nien  of  fafliion  who  hrv'e  entered  into  the  mat- 
rimonial flate,  and  whcfe  fair  partners  require  more 
attendance,  t^an  they  are  willing,  or  than  their  occu- 
paUOus  and  aflTairs  will  allow  them  to  give.  This  in- 
ftitution  appears  an  admirable  relief  to  thofe  young 
gentlemen,  who  are  afraid,  from  fundry  motives,  to 
venture  on  a  wife,  and  yet  are  unwilling  to  renounce 
the  foft  amufements  reiulting  from  the  fccieiy  of  a 
female  companion. 

Hence  at  fnft  fi^l^t,  this  employment  of  a  cicif- 
bey  may  feem  delightful  to  perfons  of  a  dilTclute  and 


82  SKETCHES  of  rm  SEX. 

libertine  difpofition ;  but  many  a  one,  who  fought  it 
with  all  the  eagernefs  of  inexperience,  has  heartily  re- 
gretted the  day  of  his  admiffion  to  a  ier\dtude,  which 
robs  him  of  every  moment  of  his  liberty,  and  gives 
the  lady,  under  whofe  banners  he  has  enlifted  him- 
felf,  an  abf  jlute  command  of  his  perfon,  his  time,  his 
means,  his  credit,  and  whatever  he  can  call  his  own. 
An  Italian  woman  knows  no  referves  ;  and  he  that 
pretends  to  her  good  graces  muft  diveft  himfelf  of  his 
will  and  paffions,  and  make  an  entire  facrlfi:e  of  them 
to  her  caprce.  Thus  a  cicilbey  is  a  perfeft  Have ; 
and  though  no  favours  are  denied  him,  yet  the  price 
he  pays  is  far  beyond  the  value  he  receives,  when 
we  reflefl:  that  he  barters  for  it  the  pe?xe  of  his  mind, 
and  the  profperity  of  his  circumftances  ;  as  it  very 
often  happens  that  advancements  in  life  arc  retarded, 
and  fometimes  totally  fruftrated,  through  the  empedi- 
ments  thrown  in  the  way  of  aftivity  by  the  atten- 
tions a  lady  infills  upcn  from  him,  who,  by  the  fatal 
cfRce  he  has  accepted,  has  bound  himfelf  to  perpetu- 
al  flavery. 

But  if  fach  a  conneftion,  viewei  only  in  a  light 
cf  ple^ifure  and  gallantry,  is  fo  very  far  from  anfwer- 
ing  the  expeftalions  even  of  the  man  of  mere  plea- 
fure,  it  ftill  difplays  a  more  fhocking  pifture,  when 
we  examine  it  according  to  the  rules  of  morality^  as  it 
radic'.tlly  d 'ftroys  the  very  firft  principles  on  which 
the  reciprocal  happinefs  of  the  l'ex:s  is  founded,  by 
introducing  into  the  wedded  fiate  a  mutual  indiffer- 
ence or  contempt. 


r!«OS= 


A. 


CHAP.  XXVI. 

Of  the  Spanijb  Wamen. 


^S  the  Spanifh  ladies  are  under  a  greater  feclu- 

*ion  from  general  fociety,  than  the  fex  is  in  other 
European  countries,  their  defires  of  an  adequate  de- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  B3 

gree  of  liberty  are  coafequenly  more  flrong  and  ur- 
gent. A  free  and  open  communication  being  denied 
them,  they  m  ke  it  their  bufinefs  to  fecure  themfelves 
a  fecret  and  hidden  one.  Hence  it  is  that  Spain  is 
the  country  cf  intrigue. 

The  Spimifh  women  are  little  or  notliing  indebt- 
ed to  education.  But  nature  has  liberally  iupplied 
them  with  a  fund  of  wit  and  fprightlinefs,  which  is 
certainly  no  fmall  inducement  to  thofe,  who  have  on- 
ly tranlient  glimpfes  of  their  charms,  to  wifh  very 
eameltly  for  a  removal  of  thofe  impediments,  that 
obflruft  their  more  frequent  prefence.  This  not  be- 
ing attainable  in  a  lawful  way  of  cuftomary  inter- 
courfe,  the  natural  propenfity  of  men  to  overcome 
difliculties  of  this  kind,  incites  them  to  leave  no  ex- 
pedient untried  to  gain  admittance  to  what  perhaps 
was  at  firft  only  the  objeft  of  iheir  admiration,  but 
which,  by  their  being  refufed  an  innocent  gratifica- 
tion of  that  p'iflion,  becomes  at  laft  the  fubject  of  a 
more  ferious  one.  Thus  in  Spain,  as  in  all  countries 
where  the  fex  is  kept  much  out  of  fight,  the  thoughts 
of  men  are  continually  employed  indevifing  methods 
to  break  into  their  corxealments. 

^  There  is  in  the  Spaniards  a  native  dignity; 
which,  though  the  (ource  of  many  inconveniences,  has 
neverthelefs  this  falutary  efleft,  that  it  fets  them  above 
almoft  every  fpe:ies  of  meannefs  and  infidelity.  This 
quality  is  not  peculiar  to  the  men  ;  it  diifuftrs  itfelf, 
in  a  great  meai'ure,  among  the  women  alio.  Its  effefts 
are  vifible  both  in  their  conftancy  in  love  and  friend- 
fhip,  in  which  refpefls  they  are  the  very  reverfe  of 
the  French  women.  Thtir  afleftions  are  not  to  be 
gained  by  a  bit  of  fparkling  lace,  or  a  tawdry  let  of 
liveries ;  nor  are  they  to  be  loft  by  the  appearance  of 
ftill  fiuer.  Tiieir  deportment  is  rather  grave  and  re- 
ferved  ;  and,  on  the  whole,  they  have  much  more  of 
the  prude  than  the  coquette  in  their  comp  fition.  Be- 
ing more  confined  at  home,  and  lefs  engaged  in  bufi- 
Bcfci  and  pleafurc,  they  take  more  care  of  their  chil- 


t4  SKETCHES  of  twe  SEX, 

dren  than  the  French,  and  have  a  becoming  tender- 
nefs  in  their  difpoliticn  to  all  animals,  except  an  hen^ 
tic  and  a  rival. 

Something  more  than  a  century  ago,  the  Mar- 
quis D' Aftrogas  having  prevailed  on  a  young  woman 
of  great  beauty  to  b^^conie  his  raiftrefs,  the  Marchion- 
efs  hearing  of  it,  went  to  her  hdging  wirh  fomeaf- 
faffins,  killed  her,  tore  out  her  heart,  carried  it  home, 
made  a  ragout  of  it,  and  prefented  the  di(h  to  the 
Marquis.  "  It  is  exceedingly  good,"  faid  he,  ^*No 
wonder,'*  anfwered  (he,  *' fince  it  was  made  of  the 
heart  of  that  creature  you  fo  much  doated  on.'* 
And,  to  confirm  what  fhe  had  faid,  Ihe  immediately 
drew  out  her  head  all  bloody  from  beneath  her  hoop, 
and  rolled  it  en  the  floor,  her  eyes  fparkiing  all  the 
time  with  a  mixture  of  pleafure  arid  infernal  fury. 

The  Spaniards  are  indulgent  almoft  beyond 
meafure  to  their  women  ;  and  there  are  feveral  fitu- 
ations  in  which  they  take  every  advantage  of  this  in- 
dulgence. A  kept  miftrefs  has,  by  indifputable  cuf- 
tom,  a  right  to  a  new  fuit  of  cL  thes,  according  to  the 
quality  of  her  keeper,  as  often  as  ihe  is  blooded.  She 
need  only  feign  a  flight  illnefs,  and  be  on  a  prop- 
er footing  with  the  doAor,  to  procure  this  as  oftca 
as  {he  pleafes. 

A  lady  to  whom  a  gentleman  pays  his  addref- 
fes,  is  iole  miftrefs  of  his  time  and  money ;  and, 
fhould  he  refufe  her  any  requelt,  whether  reafonable 
or  capricious,  it  would  rt fleft  eternal  difhonor  up:n 
him  among  the  men,  and  make  him  the  deteflation 
of  all  the  women. 

But,  in  no  fituation  does  their  charafter  appear 
fowhimfical,  or  their  power  fo  confpicuouSj  as  when 
they  are  pregnant.  In  this  cafe,  whatever  tiiey  long 
for,  whatever  they  aflc,  or  wh  Ic  ver  they  have  an  in* 
dinatioa  to  do,  they  mult  be  indulged  in. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  a,^ 

CHAP.  XXVIL 

Of  the  Englijh  Wsmtn. 

X  HE  women  of  Enghn:!  are  eminent  for  many 
good  qualities  both  of  the  head  and  of  the  heart. 
There  we  meet  with  that  inexpreilible  foftneCs  and 
delicacy  of  manners,  which,  cultivated  by  educa- 
tion, appears  as  much  fuperior  to  what  it  does  with- 
out it,  as  the  polifhed  diamond  appears  fuperior  to 
that  which  is  rough  from  the  mine.  In  ibme  parts 
©f  tiie  world,  women  have  attained  to  fo  little  knowl- 
edge, and  fo  little  confequence,  that  weconfider  their 
virtues  as  merely  of  the  negative  kind.  In  England 
they  confifl  not  only  in  abftinence  from  evil,  but  ia 
doing  good. 

There  v/e  fee  the  fex  every  day  exerting  them- 
felves  in  afts  of  benevolence  and  charity,  in  relievinp- 
the  diiirefles  of  the  body,  and  binding  up  the  wounds 
of  the  mind  ;  in  recon-',  '.ng  the  differences  of  friends, 
and  preventing  the  flrite  of  enemies ;  and,  to  funi 
up  all,  in  that  care  and  attention  to  their  offspring, 
which  is  fo  neceflary  and  effential  a  part  of  the -:  rluty* 
With  regard  to  the  Englilh  ladies,  Mr.  Groiley, 
a  French  writer,  makes  the  following  jult,  and  very 
favorable  remarks  :  "  That  fex,"  fays  he,  "  is,  in  its 
preleat  ftate,  juft  fuch  as  one  could  wifh  it  to  be,  ia 
order  to  form  the  felicity  of  wedlock.  Their  feriou5 
and  thoughtful  dirix)fitioD,  by  rendering  them  f<fden- 
tary,  attaches  them  to  their  hulbands,  to  their  chil- 
dren, and  the  care  of  their  houlfes.  Ihey,  for  the 
moft  part,  nurfe  their  own  children  themfelves  :  and 
this  cuftom,  which  gains  ground  every  day,  is  a  new 
iie  of  affection  to  the  mothers. 

"  The  E  glifh  women  are  by  no  me?.ns  indifler- 
ent  about  public  affairs.  Their  intereliing  them- 
ftlves  in  thefe,  givcs  a  new  pleafure  to  focial  life. 
llie  hulband  always  finds  at  home  fomcbody  to 

vm 


86  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

whom  he  can  open  himfelf,  and  converfe  as  long  and 
as  earneftly  as  he  thinks  proper,  upon  ihofe  fubjeds 
which  he  has  moft  at  heart. 

"  At  an  aflerably  compofed  of  both  fexes,  a  lady 
aiked  me  whether  I  iiili  had  many  curiofities  and  ob- 
jects of  obferration  to  vifit  in  London  :  I  made  an- 
fwer,  that  there  v/as  ftill  one  of  great  importance  left 
for  me  to  know,  and  that  (he  and  her  company  could 
give  me  all  the  information  I  defired :  this  was, 
whether,  in  England,  the  hufband  or  the  wife  govenu 
ed  the  hoiife  ?  My  queftion  being  explained  to  all 
the  ladies  prefent,  they  difcufled  it,  and  amufed 
themfelves  with  it ;  and  the  anfwer  which  they  a:^^  reed 
Ihould  be  returned  to  me  was,  that  hulbands  alone 
could  nfolve  it.  1  then  propoied  it  to  the  hulbands, 
who,  with  one  voice  declared  that  they  durft  not 
decide. 

"  The  perplexity  dTcovj:red  by  thofe  genflemea, 
gave  me  the  fclution  I  defired.  In  faft,  the  Englifh 
ladies  and  wives,  with  the  i^  )ft  mild  and  gentle  tone, 
and  with  an  air  of  indifference,  coldnefs,  and  languor, 
cxercife  a  power  equally  defpotic  over  both  hulbands 
and  lovers  ;  a  power  fo  m.uch  the  more  permanent, 
as  it  is  eftabhfhed  and  fupported  by  a  complaifance 
and  fal^miflivenefs,  from  which  they  rarely  depart.  ^ 

"  This  complaifance,  this  fubmiflion,  and  this 
mildnefs,  are  happy  virtues  of  conititution,  which 
nature  has  given  tnem,  to  ferve  as  a  fort  of  mafk  to 
all  that  is  moft  haughty,  proud,  and  impetuous,  in 
the  Engliih  character. 

"  'fo  the  gifts  of  nature  add  the  charm  of  beau- 
tv,  which  is  very  common  in  England.  With  regard 
to  graces,  the  Englifh  women  have  th  j(e  which  ac- 
company beauty,  and  not  thcfe  artificial  graces  that 
cannot  fupply  its  place  ;  thofe  (ranfient  graces,  which 
are  not  the  lame  to-day  as  yefterday  ;  thole  graces, 
which  are  not  fo  m.uch  the  objefts  themfelves,  as  in 
the  eye  of  the  Cpeftator,  who  has  oftefii  found  it  dif- 
ficult to  difcover  them/' 


SKETCHES  0^  the  SEX.  87 

Indeed,  almolt  ail  foreigners,  on  their  arrival 
Ifcre,  manifeft  their  confcioufoeis  of  the  fuperior 
comelinefs  of  our  women,  by  making  it  the  continual 
topic  of  their  coaverfation ;  and  though  fome  of  them 
are  not  wUling  to  exclude  from  the  right  cf  compar- 
ifon  the  females  of  their  own  country,  yet  their  caufe 
is  efpoufed  with  fo  much  faintnefs,  that  one  may  eafi- 
ly  perceive  it  is  only  done  by  way  cf  faving  their 
honour,  and  enal  ling  them  to  make  a  fort  cf  decent 
retreat  from  the  field  of  contention,  v/here  they  well 
know  ! hey  couli  not  maintain  their  ground,  ^  and 
therefore  wilV ly  avoid  much  difcourfe  on  that  fubjeft. 
Strangers  unanimraifly  agree  in  their  delcrip- 
tions  cf  our  EnelTn  ladies,  with  whofe  gentlenefs  of 
temper  and  unteigiied  mcdefty  they  feem  chieiiy^  to 
be  captivated  ;  and  invariably  concur  in  reprefenting 
them  of  a  d  cent,  unaffefted  deportment,  and  of  a 
tender,  affectionate  dilpofitioc. 


02^= 


CHAR    XXVIII. 
Of  the  Ruffian  IVcmen. 


XT  is  only  a  few  years  fi«ce  the  Ruffians  emerged 
from  a  ftate  of  barbaritv. 

A  late  empre!s  of  Ruffia,  as  a  punifhment  for 
fome  female  frailties,  ordered  a  moft  beautiful  young 
lady  of  family  to  be  publicly  chaftifed,  in  a  nianner 
whicti  was  hardly  Itfa  indelicate  than  fevere. 

It  is  laid  that  the  Ruflian  ladies  were  formerly 
as  fubmiffive  to  their  hulbands  in  their  families,  as 
the  latter  are  to  their  fuperiors  in  the  fitld  ;  and  that 
they  thought  themfelves  ill  treated,  if  they  were  not 
often  reminded  of  their  duty  by  the  diicipline  of  a 
W;;>,marufafturedbythemlelves,whichtheyprefented 
to  t^eir  hulbands  on  the  day  of  their  marriage,  The 
lateft  travellers,  however,  alTert,  ih:it  they  find  no 
r-^mainiBg  ^-act-  o^  ^w^<^c^■^  ,^^^  '>t  -^r-^?nt, 


S8  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

Their  nuptial  ceremonies  are  peculiar  to  them- 
felves;  and  fcrmerly  confifted  of  manv  whimfical 
rites,  many  of  which  are  now  difufed.  On  her  wed- 
diDg-day,  (he  bride  is  crowned  with  a  garland  of 
wormv/ood  ;  and,  after  the  priefl  has  tied  the  nup- 
tial knot,  his  clerk  or  fexton  throws  a  handful  of  hops 
upon  the  head  of  the  bride,  wifhing  that  fhe  might 
prove  as  fruitful  as  that  plant.  She  is  then  hd  home^ 
\vith  abundance  of  coarfe  ceremonies,  which  are  now 
wearing  cif  even  among  the  lowell  ranks  ;  and  the 
barbarous  treatment  of  wives  by  their  hufbir.ds  is 
either  guarded  againfl  by  the  laws  of  the  country,  or 
l)y  pcrticalar  uipul:itions  in  the  marriage  contract. 

In  the  converfatlon  and  adions  of  the  Ruflian 
Ir.dies,  there  is  hardly  any  thing  of  that  fcftnels  and 
delicacy  which  diftinguim  the  lex  in  ether  parts  of 
Europe.  Even  their  exercifes  and  diverfions  have 
mere  of  the  mafculine  than  the  feminine.  The  pre- 
fent  eniprefs,  with  the  ladies  of  her  court,  fometimes 
divert  themfelves  by  {hooting  at  a  mark.  Drunken- 
Eefs,  the  vice  of  almcft  every  cold  cRmate,  they  are 
lo  Utile  afhamed  of,  that  not  many  years  ago,  when 
a  lady  get  drunk  at  the  houfe  of  a  friend,  it  was  cuf- 
tom?.ry  for  her  to  return  next  day,  and  thank  him  for 
the  pleafure  he  had  done  her. 

Females,  however,  in  Ruffia,  pcflefs  feveral  ad- 
vantages. They  fhare  the  rank  and  fplendpr  of  the 
famiUes  from  which  they  are  fprung,  and  are  even  al- 
lowed the  fupreme  authority.  This  at  prefentj  is  en- 
joyed by  an  emprefs,  v;hofe  head  does  honour  to  her 
nation  and  to  her  fex  ;  although,  on  feme  occafions, 
the  virtues  of  her  heart  have  been  much  fufpefted. 
The  fex,  in  general,  are  prctefted  from  infult  by  ma- 
ny falutary  laws ;  and,  except  among  tl:e  peafants, 
are  exempted  from  every  kind  of  toil  and  flavery. 
Upon  the  whole,  they  feem  to  be  approaching  faft  to 
the  enjoyment  of  that  confequence,  to  which  they 
have  already  arrived  in  feveral  parts  of  Europe- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  S9 

CHxVP.    XXIX. 
Of  the  German  Women. 

vJf  all  the  German  females,  the  ladies  of  Saxony 
are  the  molt  amiable.  Their  peribns  are  fo  (uperior- 
ly  charming  and  preferable  in  whatever  can  recom- 
mend them  to  the  notice  of  mankind,  that  tht  German 
youtii  often  vifit  Saxony  in  quelt  of  compsnicns^  for 
life.  Exclufive  of  their  beauty  and  comelineis  of  ap- 
pearance, they  are  brought  up  in  the  knowledge  of 
all  thofa  arts,  both  ufeful  and  ornamental,  which  are 
fo  briUiant  an  addition  to  their  native  attraftiors. 
But  what  chiefly  enhances  their  value,  and  gives  it 
reality  and  duration,  is  ^fojeetnefs^  of  temper  andfef- 
tivity  of  difpofition,  that  never  fail  to  endear  them  on 
a  very  flight  acquaintance.  To  crown  all,  they  gener- 
ally become  patterns  of  conjugal  tendcrnefs  and  fidelity^, 

As  they  are  commonly  careful  to  improve  their 
mmds  by  reading  and  inftruftive  converiation,  they 
have  no  fmall  fhare  of  facetioufnefs  and  ingenuity* 
From  their  innate  livelinefs,  they  are  extremely  aa- 
di6bed  to  all  the  gay  kind  of  amufements.  They  ex- 
cell  in  the  allurements  of  drefs  and  decoration,  and 
are  in  general  Ikilful  in  mufic. 

The  charafter,  however,  of  the  women  in  mod 
other  parts  of  Germany,  particularly  of  the  Auftrian, 
is  very  difl'erent  from  this.  Notwithftanding  the  ad- 
vantages of  fize  and  make,  their  looks  and  features, 
thou^jh  not  unfightly,  betray  a  vacancy  of  that  life 
and  Ipirit,  without  which  beauty  is  unintereiting, 
and,  like  a  mere  pifture,  become.'*  utterly  void  of  that 
indication  of  ienfibility,  which  alone  can  awaken  si 
dclxacy  of  feeling. 

As  their  education  is  conduced  by  the  mlcs  of 

the  groflefl  Tuperlliton,  and  they  are  taught  little  clfe 

than  fet  forms  of  devotion,  they  arrive  to  the  years 

of  maturity  uninftrudted  in  the  ufe  of  reafon,  suad 

VIII  2 


po  SKETCHES  OF  The  SEX. 

ufually  continue  profoundly  ignorant  the  remainder 
of  their  days,  which  are  fpenr,  or  rather  loitered 
away,  in  apathy  and  indolence. 

Having  learned  none  of  the  ingenious  methods 
of  making  time  fit  lightly,  their  hours  of  leifure, 
which  their  inaftivity  fwells  to  a  large  amount,  are 
heavy  and  opprelTive  ;  and,  from  their  want  of  almoft 
ail  fort  of  knowledge,  the  fubjeds  of  their  difcourfe 
are  poor  and  infipid,  to  a  great  degree.  Soirkfome, 
even  to  themfelves,  is  that  kind  of  fociety  which  con- 
fias  in  a  communiGation  of  thoughts,  that  drefs  and 
diverfion  are  the  only  refuge  from  the  tedicufnefs 
which  hangs  over  the  general  tenour  of  their  lives. 
But  whatever  they  attempt  in  either,  fhews  an  ab- 
fencecf  all  tafceand  elegance,  fuch  as  one  may  natu- 
rally exped  from  the  poverty  and  barrennefs  of  their 
fancy.  In  thefe  tv/o  articles,  indeed,  they  are  obli- 
ged to  borrow  from  abroad  all  f^at  is  tolerable. 

The  princip:;!  happinefs  of  the  Auftrian  ladies  of 
fafhicn  confjfts  in  ruminating  on  the  dignity  of  their 
birth  and  families,  the  antiquity  of  their  race,  the 
rank  they  hold,  the'  refpcift  attached  to  it,  and  the 
prerogatives  they  enj  ;y  over  the  inferior  clailes,  whom 
they  treat  with  the  utmoft  fupercilioufnefs,  and  hold 
in  the  moft  u*::r:-af3nab]e  contempt.  In  the  mean 
lim*^,  their  doraefac  afEirs  are  condemned  to  the 
men:  unaccountable  negleft.  They  dwell  at  home, 
carelefs  of  whatpaffes  there  ;  and  fuffcr  difcrderaod 
ccnfafion  to  prevail,  without  feelirg  the  leaft  uneafi- 
iief?.  Great  frequenters  of  churches,  their  piety 
c'nfifls  in  the  ftrfteft  conformity  to  all  the  externals 
cf  relip^ion.  They  profefs  the  moit  bcundlefs  belief 
in  all  the  r^Hvl^^gen'/.s  with  which  their  treatifes  of  de- 
votion rre  filled  ;  and  thefe  are  the  only  bocks  they 
ever  read.  The  coldnefs  of  their  ccnftitudon  occa- 
ilons  a  fpecies  of  regulated  gallantry,  which  is  ratter 
the  efFcft  cf  an  opinion  that  it  is  an  appendage  of 
'JhigJi  life,  than  the  refult  of  their  natural  inclination. 

it  muft  at  the  Gvmc  time  be  allowed,  that  the 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  ^t 

Auftrian  women  arc  endowed  with  a  great  fund  of 
fmcerity  and  cundour  ;  and,  though  too  much  on  the 
referve,  and  prone  to  keep  at  an  unneceffary  diftance, 
are  yet  capable  of  the  trueft  attachment,  and  always 
warm  and  zealous  in  the  caufe  of  thofe  whom  they 
have  admitted  to  their  friendlhip. 

Though  the  Germans  are  rather  a  dull  and  phleg- 
matic people,  and  not  greatly  enflaved  by  the  warmer 
pi'ffions,  yet  at  the  court  or  Vienna  they  are  much 
given  to  intrigue  :  and  an  amour  is  fo  far  from  being 
fcandalous,  that  a  woman  gains  credit  by  the  rank  of 
her  gallant,  and  is  reckoned  filly  andunfafhionable  if 
Ihe  fcrupuloufly  adheres  to  the  virtue  of  chaftity.  But 
fuch  culloms  are  more  the  cufloms  of  courts,  than  of 
places  lefs  expofed  to  temptation,  and  confequently 
lefs  diflblute  ;  and  we  are  well  afTured  that  in  Ger- 
many there  are  many  women  who  do  honour  to  hu- 
manity, not  by  challity  only,  but  alfo  by  a  variety 
of  other  virtues. 

The  ladies  at  the  principal  courts,  differ  not  much 
In  the'.r  drefs  from  the  French  and  Englifh.  They 
are  not,  however,  fo  exceflively  fond  of  paint  as  the 
former.  At  fome  courts,  they  appear  in  rich  furs ; 
and  all  of  them  are  loaded  with  jewels,  if  they  can 
obtain  them.  The  female  part  of  the  burgher's  fami- 
Tes,  in  many  of  the  German  towns,  drcfs  ri  a  very 
different  manner,  and  fome  of  ihem  inconceivably 
fantaflic,  as  may  be  feen  in  many  prints  publifhed  in 
books  of  travels.  But,  in  this  refpeft,  they  are  grad- 
ually reforming,  and  many  of  them  mr.ke  quite  a  dif- 
ferent appearance  in  their  drefs  from  what  they  did 
thirty  or  forty  years  ago. 

Fhe  inhabitants  of  Vienna  live  luxurioufly,  a 
great  part  of  their  time  being  fpent  in  feafiing  and 
caroufmg.  In  winter,  when  the  different  branches 
of  the  Danube  are  frozen  over,  and  the  ground  cov- 
f rp-l  wirh  fnow,  the  ladies  take  their  recreation  in 
s  of  different  fhapes,  fuch  as  griffins,  tyger^, 
*  ^>  aiii,  fcallop-ihcHs,  &c.    Here  the  lady  fits,  drcffed 


9z  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

in  velvet  lined  with  rich  furs,  and  adorned  with  laces 
and  jewels,  having  on  her  head  a  velvet  cap.  ITie 
fledge  is  drawn  by  one  horfe,  flag  or  other  creature, 
fet  off  with  plumes  of  feathers,  ribbands  and  bells» 
As  this  diveriion  is  taken  chiefly  in  the  night  time, 
fervants  ride  before  the  fledge  with  torches ;  and  a 
gentleman,  {landing  on  the  fledge  behind,  guides 
the  horfe. 


=:=i5ss::^ 


CHAR    XXX. 

On  the  Comparative  Merit  of  the  two  Sexes, 

X  HE  diflference  of  duties,  of  occupations,  and  of 
manners,  muft  certainly  have  a  confiderable  influence 
on  the  genius,  on  the  fentiments,  and  on  the  charac- 
ter of  the  two  fexes. 

In  comparing  the  intelleftual  powers  of  men  and 
women,  it  is  neceflTary  to  difl:inguifli  between  the  phi- 
lofophical  talent,  which  thinks  and  difcriminates ;  the 
talent  of  memory,  which  colle(5ts ;  the  talent  of  imag- 
ination, which  creates  ;  the  moral  and  pohtical  tal- 
ent, which  governs.  It  is  alfo  neceflTary  to  ir«quire 
to  what  degree  women  poflTefs  thefe  four  kinds  of 
genius. 

The  philofophical  fpirit  is  rare  indeed,  even 
smong  men.  But  ftill  there  are  many  great  men  who 
have  pofl^eflTed  it ;  who  have  raifed  themfelves  to  the 
height  of  nature,  to  become  acquainted  with  her 
works ;  who  have  (hewn  to  the  foul  the  fource  of  its 
idea«  ;  who  have  afllgned  to  reafon  its  bounds,  to 
motion  its  laws,  and  to  the  univerfe  its  harmony; 
who  have  created  fciences  in  creating  principles ;  and 
who  have  aggrandized  the  human  mind  in  cultivating 
their  own.  If  there  is  a  woman  found  ©n  a  level 
with  thefe  illuftrious  men,  is  it  the  fault  of  education 
cr  of  nature.'* 


SKETCHES  OF  tme  SEX.  # 

Defcartes,  abufeJ  bv  envious  men,  but  admired 
by  two  generous  princeiTes,  bcafted  of  the  philofoph- 
A  talents  cf  women.  We  muft  not,  however,  im- 
agine that  his  gratitude  could  lead  him  into  a  volun- 
tary error,  eren  in  compliment  to  beauty.  He  would 
no  doubt  find  in  Elizabeth,  and  in  Chriftiana,  a  do- 
dlity  which  prided  itfelf*  in  liftening  to  fo  great  a  man, 
and  which  feemed  to  affociate  itlelf  with  his  genius, 
in  following  the  train  of  his  ideas.  He  might  per- 
haps even  find,  in  the  compofitions  of  women,  per- 
(bicuity,  order,  and  method.  But  did  he  find  that 
KTong  cii/ccTntnent yth:xt  depth  of  intelleft,  that  difii- 
dence,  which  charafterifes  the  real  philofopher  ?  Did 
he  find  that  cool  realbn,  which,  always  inquifitive, 
advances  flowly,  and  re-meafures  all  its  fteps  ? — Their 
enius,  penetr:-tijg  ar.d  rapid,  flies  off,  and  is  at  relh 
i'hey  have  more  fallies  than  efforts.  What  they  do 
not  fee  at  once,  they  feldom  fee  at  all ;  they  either 
di/Iain  or  defpair  to  comprehend  it.  They  are  not 
poffeifed  of  that  unremitting  ajfiditity^  which  alone  cao 
purfue  and  difcover  important  truths. 

Imagination  feems  rather  to  be  thAr^froviiice, 
It  has  been  obferved,  that  the  imagination  ct  women 
lias  in  it  fomething  unaccountably  Angular  and  ex- 
fraordinary.  All  things  flrike  it ;  all  things  paint 
themfelves  on  it,  in  a  lively  manner.  Their  volatile 
fenfes  embrace  every  obieft,  and  carry  off  its  images, 
^ome  unkno-iun  powers,  lomefecretfympathies,  enable 
them  rapidly  to  feize  the  imprefCocs.  The  material 
world  is  not  fufficient  for  them;  they  love  to  create 
Tintdeal  ^ox\A  oi  their  own,  which  they  embellifh, 
and  in  which  they  dwell.  Speftres,  enchantments, 
prodigies,  and  whatever  »ran(cends  the  ordinary;  laws 
of  nature,  are  their  creation  and  their  delight.  They 
enjoy  even  their  terrors.  Their  feelings  are  fine,  and 
their  fancy  always  approaches  to  enthufiafm. 

But  how  far,  it  may  be  aiked,  can  the  imagina- 
tion of  females,  when  applied  to  the  arts,  unfold  it- 
felf in  the  talent  of  creating  and  dcfcribing  .^  Is  thar 


94  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

imagination  as  vigorous  as  it  is  lively  and  verfatile  ? 
Does  it  not  unavoidably  partake  of  their  occupations, 
of  their  pleafures,  of  their  taftes,  and  even  of  their 
weakneffes  ?  Perhaps  their  delicate  fibres  are  afraid  of 
ftrong  fenfations,  which  fatigue  them,  and  make  them 
feek  the  fweets  which  would  give  them  repofe. 

Man,  always  aftive,  is  expofed  to  ftorms.  The 
imag'.nation  of  the  poet  enjoys  itfelf  on  the  ridge  of 
mountains,  on  the  brink  of  volcanos,  in  the  middle  of 
ruins,  on  feas,  and  in  fields  of  battle ;  and  it  is  never 
more  fuiceptible  of  tender  ideas,  than  afier  having- 
exj^erienced  fome  great  emotion. 

But  women,  by  means  of  their  delicate  and  fe* 
dentary  life,  lefs  acquainted  with  the  contraft  of  the 
gentle  and  the  terrible^  may  be  fuppofcd  to  feel  and  to 
paint  lets  perfeftiy,  even  that  which  is  agreeable,  than 
thofe  who  are  thrown  into  contrary  fituaticns,  and 
pafs  rapidly  from  one  fenfation  to  another. 

Perhaps  too,  from  the  habit  of  refigning  them- 
felves  to  the  irapreffion  of  the  moment,  which  with 
them  is  very  ftrong,  their  minds  mutt  be  more  replen- 
ifhed  with  images  than  pictures.  Or  probably  their 
imagination,  though  lively,  refembles  a  mirror,  which 
refieds  every  thing,  but  creates  nothirg. 

Love  is  without  difpute,  the  paffion  which  wo- 
men feel  the  ftrongeft,  and  which  they  exprefs  the 
beft.  They  feel  the  other  paflions  more  feebfy5and, 
as  it  were,  by  chance.  But  love  is  their  own  ;  it  is 
the  charm  and  the  bufmefs  of  their  life  ;  it  is  their 
foul.  They  fhould  therefore  know  w^ell  how  to 
paint  it. 

But  do  they  know,  like  the  author  of  Gthello, 
of  Revenge  ;  or  of  Zara,  to  exprefs  the  tranfpcrts 
of  a  troubled  foul,  which  joins  fury  to  love;  which 
is  fometimes  impetuous,  and  fometimes  tender  ; 
which  now  is  foftened,  and  now  is  roufed  ;  which 
{heds  blood,  and  which  facrifices  itftlf?  Can  they 
paint  thefe  doublings  of  the  human  heart,  thefe  llorms 
cf  emotion  and  pallion  ?— No ;  nature  herfelf  ref- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  95 

trains  them.    Love  in  the  one  fex  is  a  conqueft,  ia 
the  other  a  Ticrifice. 

It  mutt  therefore  generally  happen  that  the  wo- 
men  of  all  countries,  and  in  all  ages,  know  better  how 
to  paint  a  delicate  and  tender  ientiment,  than  a  vio- 
lent and  turbulent  paffion. 

And,  bt fides,  by  their  duty,  by  the  referve  of 
th^ir  fex,  by  the  defire  of  a  certain  grace  which  fof- 
tens  all  their  expreffions,  is  more  bewitching  than 
wit,  and  more  attraftive  than  beauty,  they  are  oblig- 
ed always  to  conceal  a  part  of  their  featiments.  Mufl 
not  then  thefe  fentiments,  by  being  continually  ref- 
trained,  become  weaker  by  degrees,  and  have  lefs 
energy  than  thofe  of  men,  who  at  all  times  bold  and 
extravagant  wih  impunity,  give  to  their  paffions 
what  tone  they  pleafe,  and  which  are  invigorated  by 
exercife  ? 

A  temporar^^  conftraint  inflames  the  pafllons ; 
but  a  continued  conflraint  cools  or  extinguifhes  them. 

With  regard  to  the  talent  of  order  and  memory, 
which  clafTes  fafts,  and  ideas  when  necelTary,  as  it 
depe  ids  a  good  deal  upon  method  and  habit,  there 
feems  little  reafon  why  the  two  fcxes  may  not  pof- 
fcfs  it  in  an  equal  degrte.  But  are  not  women  foon- 
er  dirgufled  with  the  excels  of  labour,  which  is  necet- 
f  .ry  in  order  to  acqu're  the  quantity  of  materials  from 
which  erudition  refults  ?  Mufl  not  their  impatience 
and  natural  defire  of  change,  which  arife  from  fleet- 
ing and  rapid  imprelTions,  prevent  them  from  follow- 
ing, for  a  courfe  of  years,  the  fame  kind  of  ftudy, 
and  confequently  from  acquiring  profound  or  exteu- 
five  knowledge  ?  '1  ncugh  this  may  be  the  cafe,  they 
certiinly  have  qualities  of  mind  which  atone  for  it* 
It  is  not  the  fame  hand  which  po!i/ba  the  diamond, 
.<nd  which  digs  the  mine. 

We  come  now  to  a  mere  important  objefl,  the 
political  or  moral  abilities,  which  confift  in  the  direc- 
tion of  ourfelves  or  of  others.  In  order  to  weigh  up- 
on  this  fubjeft,  the  ftdvantages  or  difad vantages  pe- 


^6  SKETCHES  OF  t^he  SEX. 

culiar  to  each  fex,  it  is  neceffary  to  diftingiiifh  be- 
tween the  ufe  of  thefe  abilities  in  (ixiety,  and  their 
uie  in  government. 

As  women  fet  a  high  value  upon  opinion,  they 
muft,by  confequence,  very  attentively  confider  what 
it  is  which  produces,  deftroys,  or  confirms  it.  They 
muftknow  how  far  one  may  direft,  without  appear- 
ing to  be  interefted ;  how  far  one  may  premme  upoa 
that  art,  even  after  it  is  known ;  in  what  eftimation 
they  are  held  by  thofe  with  whom  they  live ;  and  to 
what  degree  it  is  neceffary  to  ferve  them,  that  they 
may  govern  them. 

In  all  matters  of  bufmefs,  women  know  the 
great  effects  which  are  produced  by  little  caufes. 
They  have  the  art  of  impofing  upon  fome,  by  feem- 
ing  to  difcover  to  them  what  they  already  know  ; 
and  of  diverting  others  from  their  purpofe,  by  con- 
firming their  moft  diftant  fufpicions.  They  know  how 
to  captivate  by  praifes  thofe  who  merit  them  ;  and 
to  raife  a  blufh,  by  bellowing  them  where  they  are 
not  due. 

Thefe  delicate  fciences  are  the  kading-Jlrings  in 
which  the  women  condud  the  men.  Society  to  them 
is  Like  a  harpfichord,  of  which  they  know  the  touch- 
es ;  and  they  can  guefs  ?,t  the  found  which  every 
touch  will  produce.  But  man,  impetuous  and  free, 
iupplying  the  want  of  addrels  by  flren^th,  and  ccnfe- 
quently  being  lefs  interefted  to  oblerve — hurried 
away,  befides,  by  the  nsceflity  of  continual  adlion — 
can  Icarcely  be  poffeffed  of  all  thofe  little  notices^  and 
polite  attentions,  which  tre  every  moment  neceffary 
in  the  commerce  of  life.  Their  calculations,  there- 
fore, on  fociety,  mull  be  more  flow,  and  lefs  fure, 
than  thofe  of  women. 

Let  us  now  take  a  view  of  that  fpecies  of  un- 
derftanding,  in  the  two  fexes,  which  is  applicable  to 
government. 

In  fociety,  women  govern  men  by  their  paffions, 
and  the  fmalleit  motives  often  produce  thegreateft 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  97 

confequences.  But,  in  the  government  of  ftates,  it  is 
by  comprehenfive  views,  by  the  choice  of  principles, 
and,  above  all,  by  the  difcovery  and  the  employment 
of  talents,  that  fuccefs  can  \^  obtained.  Here,  infead 
of  taking  advantage  of  foibles,  they  mull  fear  them. 
They  mu(i  raife  men  above  thtirweaknefles,  and  not 
lead  them  into  them. 

In  fociety,  therefore,  the  art  of  governinp:  may 
be  faid  to  confift  in  flattering  charafters  with  ad- 
-drcfs  ;  and  the  art  of  adminiftration,  in  combating 
them  with  judgment.  The  knowledge  ot  mankind 
required  in  the  two  cafes  is  very  different.  In  the 
one,  they  muft  be  known  by  their  weaknefs  ;  in  the 
oth^r,  by  their  flrength.  The  one  draws  forth  defefts 
fcr  Utile  ends  ;  the  other  difcovers  great  qualities, 
which  are  mingled  with  thofc  very  faults.  The  one, 
in  fhrs  feeks  iiitle  blemifhes  in  great  men  ;  and  the 
other,  in  deil^cling  great  men,  muft  often  p.-rceive 
the  fame  fpots  ;  for  p^rfecl  charafters  exifl  only  in 
Utopia, 

Let  us  now  inquire  whether  this  fpecies  of  un- 
derftanding  and  obfervation  belongs  equally  to  the 
twofexes. 

There  are  women  who  have  reigned,  and  who 
Jiill  reign  with  luftrc.  Chriftiana  in  Sweden  Ifabelia 
of  Caflile  in  Spain,  and  El'zabeth  in  England,  have 
merited  the  ef^eem  of  their  age  and  p  Iterlty. 

We  faw,  in  the  war  of  1741,  a  princefs,  whom 
even  her  enemies  ad m* red,  defend  the  German  em- 
pire with  no  lefs  genius  than  cournge,  and  we  Jcilely 
beheld  the  Ottman  empire  fhnken  by  a  woman. 
But,  in  general  queftions,  we  fhould  beware  of  tak- 
ing exceptions  for  rules,  and  obferve  the  ordinary 
courfe  of  nature. 

it  therefore  becomes  neceffiry  to  inqtnre,  wheth* 
erwjmen,  who,  a'^cording  to  the  mode  of  fxiety, 
neit-^er  are,  ncr  have  n  th^ir  power  to  be,  fo  cften 
in  acl'on  as  men,  can  io  well  judge  (;f  talents,  their 
ufe,  or  their  extent;  vhet..er  great  views,  and  the 


98  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

application  of  great  principlc-s,  with  the  habit  of  per* 
ceiving  confequences  with  tjie  glance  of  an  eye,  are 
compatible  with  their  wandering  imagination,  and 
with  minds  lb  little  accuflomed  to  the  r.rra'.:!gement 
of  their  ideas.  All  this  is  neceflary  to  form  the  char- 
acter which  governs.  It  is  the  vigor  of  the  foul 
which  ^ives  activity  to  genius,  which  extends  and 
W'hich  ftrengthens  pc>htical  iders.  This  charadter, 
however,  can  hardly  be  formed  but  by  great  com- 
motions, great  hopes,  and  great  fears,  as  alfo  then€- 
ceffity  of  being  continually  eDg?ged  in  aftion.    ''^ 

Is  it  not  in  general,  the  character  of  women, 
t'  at  iheir  minds  are  more  pleafmg  and  ftrong  ?  Does 
not  their  rapid  imagination,  which  often  make^  fenti- 
ment  precede  thought,  render  them.,  in  the  choice  of 
men,  m^,re  fufceptibie  both  of  prejudice,  and  of  er- 
ror ?  Would  not  one  be  in  danger  of  abufe,  w^ould 
noto::e  even  run  the  r'ik  of  their  difpleafure,  if  he 
ihould  fay  that,  in  the  diftribution  of  their  eflecra, 
they  w^-^uld  fet  too  high  a  value  uprn  external  ac- 
complilhni  nts ;  and,  in  fhcrt,  they  would  perhaps 
be  too  eafjly  led  to  believe  that  an  agreeable  man  was 
a  great  man  ?  ^  ^ 

El  zabc-th  was  not  fr^e  from  this  cenfure.  The 
inclinations  of  lier  (ex  iiole  beneath  the  cares  of  the 
throne,  and  the  greainefs  of  her  cnar-'ft  t.  We  are 
chagrined,  at  certain  times,  to  fee  thelitda  weakneffes 
cf  a  wom'iu  rningle  v/ith  the  views  of  a  great  mind. 

This  tafte  for  coquetry,  as  is  well  known,  fur- 
riiflied  Ehzabetii  with  favorites,  in  the  choice  cf  which 
fne  judged  more  like  a -u/^y/z^;!  thnn  like  2i  fiver cign. 
She  wt^s  alv/ays  too  ready  to  believe,  that  the  power 
of  pl?aiing  her,  implied  geniiK?. 

That  io  much  celebrated  queen  exercif  d  over 
England  an  alm'^  ft  arbitrary  fway  ;  at  v^^liich,  p3r- 
haps,  we  ought  not  to  be  furprifev'.  Wom^n,  in 
general,  on  the  throne,  src  more  inclined  to  defjotifwy 
and  more  impatient  of  reitraint,  than  men.  'i  he  fex 
to  v/hv  m  nature  has  afli£;ried  power,  by  giving  theia 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX,  99 

ftrcngth,  have  a  certuia  confidence  which  raifes  them 
in  th-ir  own  eyes  ;  fo  that  they  have  no  need  of  man- 
felting  to  themfeives  that  fuperiority  of  which  they 
are  fare.  But  wcakriefs,  aitjniflied  at  the  Iway 
which  (he  polTefles,fhakes  her  fceptre  on  every  fide,  to 
eltablifh  her  dominion. 

Great  men  are  perhaps  more  carried  to  that  fpe- 
.  es  of  defpoiirm  which  ariles  from  lofty  ideas ;  and 
^vomen,  above  the  ordinary  clafs,  to  the  deipotilin 
which  proceeds  from  palTion.  The  lad  is  rather  a 
fdlly  of  the  heart,  than  the  effeft  of  fyftem. 

One  thing  which  favors  the  defpotiiin  of  female 
fovercir^ns  is,  that  t!:e  men  confound  the  empire  of 
their  fex  with  that  of  their  rank.  What  we  refufe  to^ 
grandeur,  we  pay  to  beauty.  But  the  dominion  of 
women,  even  when  arbitrary,  is  feldom  cruel. 
Theirs  is  rather  a  delpotifm  oFciprice,  than  of  op- 

ErelTicn.    The  throne  itfelf  cannot  cure  their  fenfi- 
ility.    They  carry  in  their  bofoms  the  counterpoife 
cf  their  pnver. 

Hence  it  follows,  that  in  limited  monarchies,  fe- 
mle  fovereigns  will  tend  to  delpotifm  from  their  jeal- 
pufy  ;  and  in  abf  lu'e  government,  will  approach  to 
monarchy  by  their  miidaefs.  This  cbfervation  is 
proved  by  experience. 


CHAP.    XXXI. 

On  the  RalieUus  and  Dotncfitc  Virtues  of  Wc/nien, 


B< 


^  >OTH  experience  and  hiRory  at^eft,  that  in  all 
fcctj,  in  all  countries,  and  in  all  ranks,  the  women 
have  more  religious  virtues  than  the  men.  Natural- 
Iv  pDffefredof  more  fenfibility,  they  have  more  ccca- 
iloa  for  an  objedl  which  may  conflantly  occupy  thwir 


100  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

minds.  Defirous  of  happinefs,  and  not  finding  enough 
in  this  world,  they  launch  into  a  life  end  a  world 
abounding  with  ineffable  dehghts.  More  flexible  in 
thw-ir  du'ies  than  men,  they  reafon  lefs,  and  feel  more. 
More  fubjefted  to  good  opinion,  they  pay  more  at- 
te..tion  to  what  concerns  themfelves.  Lefs  occupied, 
and  iefs  aftive,  they  have  more  time  for  contempla- 
tion. Lefs  abftracled  or  abfent,  they  are  more  ftrong- 
iy  affected  by  the  fame  idea, '  becaufe  it  appears  be- 
fore them  continually.  More  ftruck  by  external  ob- 
jects, they  reUfh  more  the  pageantry  of  ceremonies 
and  of  tempi- s  ;  and  the  devotion  of  the  fenfes  has 
no  inconfiderable  effeft  on  that  of  the  foul. 

The  domeilic  virtues  are  intimately  connefted 
with  thofe  of  religion ;  they  are  doubtlefs  common 
to  both  fexes.  The  advantage,  however,  feems  ftill 
to  be  in  favour  of  the  women.  At  leaft  they  have 
more  need  of  virtues  which  they  have  more  cccalion 
to  praftife. 

In  the  firft  period  of  life,  timid,  and  without  fup- 
port,  the  d:^ughter  is  mere  attached  to  her  mother. 
By  f:ldom  leaving  her,  ihe  comes  to  love  her  more. 
The  tremblmg  innocent  is  cheered  by  the  prefei^ceof 
her  proteftref's ;  and  her  weaknefs,  while  it  heightens 
her  beauty,  augments  her  fenfibility.  After  becom- 
ing a  mother  herfelf,  fhe  has  other  duties,  which  eve- 
ry thing  invites  her  to  fulfil.  Then  the  condition  of 
the  two  fexes  is  widely  different. 

Man,  in  the  middle  of  his  labours,  and  among 
his  arts,  employing  his  powers,  and  commanding  na- 
ture, finds  pleafure  in  his  induftry,  in  his  fuccefs,  and 
and  even  in  his  toils.  But  woman,  being  more  f^li- 
tary,  and  lefs  aftive,  has  fewer  refources.  Her  pleaf- 
ure muft  arife  from  her  virtues ;  her  amufements 
are  her  children.  It  is  near  the  cradle  of  her  infant ; 
it  is  in  viewing  the  fmiles  of  her  daughter,  or  the 
fports  of  her  fon,  that  a  mother  is  happy. 

Where  are  the  tender  feclingj?,  the  cries,  the  pow- 
erful emotions  of  nature  ?  Where  is  the  fentiment^ 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  lot 

at  once  fuMime  and  pathetic,  that  carries  every  feel- 
ing to  excefs  ?  Is  it  to  be  found  in  the  frolly  indiiler- 
ence,  and  the  rigid  feverity,  of  lb  mviny  fathers  ?  No; 
it  is  in  the  warm  impaflioned  bofom  of  a  mother.  It 
is  ihe  wao,  by  an  impnlfe  as  quick  as  involuntary, 
rulhes  into  th?  flood  to  fnatch  her  child,  whcfe  im- 
pruJence  had  betrayed  him  to  the  waves  1  It  is  fhc 
v/  io  in  the  middle  of  a  conflagration,  throws  herfelf 
acrofs  the  flames  to  fave  her  fleeping  infant ! 

Thefe  great  exprefllons  of  nature,  thefe  heart- 
rending emoti  )ns,  wnich  fill  us  at  once  with  wonder, 
compaffion  and  terror,  always  have  beiongecj,  and 
always  w  11  belong  only  to  women.  They  poffefs,  ia 
thofe  moments,  an  inexprefiible  fom.etJiing,  which 
cirri-. s  them  beyond  themfelves.  They  feera  to 
difcover  to  us  new  fouls,  above  the  ftandard  of  hu- 
manity. 

if  we  confider  alfo  the  matrimonii!  dutie":,  the 
obligations  of  hulband  and  wife,  which  of  the  fexes 
is  moll  hktly  to  be  faithful  ?  Which,  in  violating 
thf^m,  has  mofk  obftacles  to  encounter  ?  Is  not  wo- 
man beft  defended  by  her  education,  by  herreferve, 
and  by  that  modefcy  which  filen:es  even  her  defires  ? 
To  thefe  refl:raints  we  may  add  the  power  of  the  firft 
p'ifion,  and  ihe  firil  ties,  over  a  heart  endowed  with 
fenfibiVity. 

Nature,  herfelf,  attentive  in  this  inftance  to  the 
manners  of  women,  has  taken  care  to  i'urround  them 
with  the  fLrcngeft,  yet  the  gentleft:  barriers.  She 
has  made  inconftarcy  more  painful,  and  fidelity 
mon?  ple?fing  to  their  hear  s.  Eve;i  in  ages  cf  gen- 
eral corupticn,  r^;?/^//^^/ infidelity  in  women  has  beeu 
one  of  the  lait  of  crimes. 


tfSgTiPg 


IX  z 


102  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

CHAP.    XXXII. 

On    Female  FrieridJlAp* 

\_T  has  lot^g  been  a  queftion,  Which  of  the  twofex-. 
es  is  moil  capable  of  friendfliip  ?  Moatagne,  who  is 
ib  much  celebrated  for  his  knowledge  ot  human  na- 
ture, h?.s  given  it  pofitively  againft  the  women ;  and 
his  opinbn  has  been  generally  embrace^!. 

Friendfhip  perhaps,  in  women,  is  more  rare  thaa 
among  men  ;  but,  at  the  i'ame  time,  it  muft  be  allow* 
ed  that  where  it  is  found,  it  is  mere  tender. 

Men,  in  general,  have  more  of  the  parade  ihaa 
the  graces  of  frieiidfliip.  They  often  wound  while 
they  fsrve ;  and  their  warmeft  fentiments  are  not 
very  enlightened,  withTeipeft  to  thofe  minute  fenti- 
ments which  are  of  fo  much  value.  But  women  have 
a  refined  fenfibii'ty,  v/hich  makes  them  fee  every 
thing ;  nothing  efcapes  them.  They  divine  the  filent 
friendfhJp ;  tiiey  encourage  the  bafhful  or  timid 
friendlhip  ;  they  oifer  tb^ir  fweeteft  confolaticns  to 
friendfhip  in  diilrefs^  Furnifhed  with  finer  inftru- 
nientc,  they  treat  more  delicately  a  wounded  heart* 
They  compofe  it,  and  prevent  it  from  feeling  i's  ago* 
nies.  They  know,  above  all,  how  to  give  value  to  a 
thoufand  things,  which  have  no  value  in  ihemfelves* 

We  ought  therefore,  perhaps,  to  defire  the 
frienddiip  of  a  man  upon  great  cccafions ;  but,  for 
gen^r-l  happinei-r,  we  muft  prefer  the  fiiendfhip  of  a 
woman. 

With  regard  to  female  intimacies,  it  may  be 
taken  fcr  grant  d  that  tiiere  is  no  young  wom-an  who 
has  not,  or  whiles  not  to  have,  a  companion  of  her 
own  lex,  to  whom  {he  may  unbofom  herfelf  on  every 
occafi  'X\.  That  there  are  women  capable  of  friend* 
fh'p  with  women,  few  impartial  obfervers  will  deny. 
'1 1  ere  have  hei  n  many  evident  proofs  of  it,  and  thofe 
carried  as  far  as  feemcd  compatible  with  the  imper- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX-  T03 

feftions  of  our  commcn  nature*  It  is,  however, 
queitioned  bv  Tome  ;  w-::ils  others  believe  that  it  hap- 
pens exceedingly  (eldom.  Bet  A^een  m:irried  and  un- 
married women,  it  no  doubt  happens  very  often  ; 
whether  it  does  fo  between  thofe  that  are  fi^gle,  is 
not  lb  certain.  Young  men  appear  more  frequently 
fufceptible  of  a  gen-r^us  an!  fteady  friendlhip  for 
each  other,  than  females  as  yet  unconnected  ;  ei'pr  dal- 
ly, if  the  latter  have,  or  are  fupp:fed  to  have,  pre- 
tentions to  beauty,  not  adjulied  by  the  public. 

In  the  frame  and  condition  of  females,  however, 
compared  with  thofe  of  the  other  fex,  there  are  fome 
circumftances  which  may  help  towards  an  apology  for 
this  uatavounble  feature  in  thJr  character. 

The  ftate  of  matrimony  is  necellary  to  the  fupport, 
order,  and  comfort  of  fociety.  Bat  it  is  a  ilate  that 
fubj  eels  the  women  to  a  great  variety  of  folicitude 
and  pain.  Nothing  could  carrv  them  through  it  with 
any  tolerable  i"atisfa6i:ion  or  fp  rit,  but  very  flrong 
and  almoit  unconquerable  attachments.  To  produce 
thefe,  is  it  not  fit  they  fhould  be  peculiarly  fenfible  to 
the  attention  and  regards  of  the  men  ?  Upon  the 
fame  ground,  does  it  not  feem  agreeable  to  the  pur- 
pofes  of  Providence,  that  the  fecuring  of  t'nis  atten- 
tion, and  thefe  regards,  fhoiili  be  a  prin  ipalaim? 
But  can  fuch  an  aim  be  purfued  with :ut  frequent 
competition  ?  And  will  net  that  too  readilv  occafioix 
je?lou(y,  envy,  and  ail  theunamiaole  effefts  of  mu- 
tUcd  rivaljhip  ?  Without  the  re(tr.\ints  cf  fuperior 
worh  and  fentiment,  it  c  rtainly  will.  But  can  thefe 
be  ordinarily  expefted  from  t  :e  prevailing  turn  of 
female  educativ^n ;  or  from  the  little  pal- s  that  wo- 
men, as  well  as  other  human  brings,  C(  mmonlv  t.  ke 
to  csntrovi  themfclvcs,  and  to  aft  no'  ly  ?  In  this  /q^^ 
rcfpecl,  the  iexes   appear  pretty  much  on  ihe  laiiii 

vCiinji;. 

This  reafcnipg  is  not  meant  to  juf^ify  t!  e  indul- 

jrjre  of  thofe  little  and  fometimes   bale  pafTi^'is  to- 
wvards  one  another,  with  which  females  have  been  fo 


T04  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX, 

generally  charged.  It  is  only  intended  to  reprefent 
(uchp-ffionsm  the  iirft  approach ;  and,  wnile  not 
enter  aiaed,  as  Ids  criminal  than  the  men  are  apt  to 
ftateth.^m;  and  to  prove  that,  in  tneir  attachments 
to  each  other,  the  latter  have  n  t  always  that  merit 
above  the  v/om  n,  which  they  areapt  tochim.  In  the 
mean  time,  let  it  be  the  bufmefs  of  the  laJies,  by  emu- 
lating the  gentlemen,  where  they  app-ar  good-na'ur- 
ed  and  diiintereited,  to  d'fprove  their  imputation,  and 
to  fn:  w  a  temp  r  open  lofriendjhip  as  well  as  to  hve^ 

To  ^  Ik  much  of  the  1  itter  is  natural  for  both  ; 
to  talk  much  of  the  former,  is  confidered  by  the  men 
as  one  v/ay  of  doing  themff  Ives  honour.  Frle:idfhip, 
they  well  kn  w,  is  that  dignified  form,  which,  in  fpec- 
Klati'^n  at  la  ft,  every  heart  mult  refpeft. 

But  in  friendfhip,  as  in  religion,  which  on  many 
account:?  it  refembl-^s,  fpeculation  is  often  fubflituted 
in 'he  place  of  practice.  People  fancy  thtm^elves 
p  jflelTed  of  the  thing,  and  hope  that  others  will  fancy 
lb  too,  becaufe  th:^y  are  fond  of  the  name,  and  have 
learnt  co  talk  about  it  with  plaufibility.  "Such  talk 
indeed  impofes,  till  experience  give  it  the  lie. 

To  fay  the  truth,  there  feems  in  either  fex  but 
iitde  of  what  a  fond  iraaginalion,  unacquai:.ted  with 
the  falfehood  of  the  worl!,  and  warmed  by  affefticns 
which  its  felfifhnefs  h^.s  not  yet  chilled,  would  reckon 
friendfhip.  In  theory,  the  fi-andard  is  railed  too  high ; 
•  we  ought  not,  however,  to  with  it  much  lower.  The 
honeft  f-niibilities  of  ingenuous  nature  fliould  not  be 
checked  by  the  over-cautious  documents  of  political 
prudence.  No  advantage,  obtained  by  fuch  frigidity, 
cm  comp^nlate  f  >r  the  want  of  thofe  warm,  eftufions 
of  the  heart  into  t"e  bofom  of  a  friend,  which  are 
dcu^:^tlefs  among  the  mcft  exquifite  ple;ifures.  At 
the  f  me  time,  h.  wever,  it  muft  he  owned,  that  they 
often  by  the  inevitable  ht  of  humanity,  m.-^ke  u^ay 
for  the  hattereft  pai^s  which  the  breaft  can  experi- 
ence. Happy  beyond  the  common  conditic  n  of  her 
fcxj  is  Qie  who  has  found  a  friend  indeed ;   opea 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  105 

hearted,  yet  difcreet ;  generoufly  fervent,  yet  fteady ; 
thorougnly  virtuous,  but  not  Tevere  ;  wile,  as  w  Jl  as 
cheerful !  Can  fuch  a  friend  be  loved  too  much,  or 
cheriihed  too  tenderly  ?  If  to  excellence  and  hnppi- 
nefs  there  be  any  one  way  mere  compendious 
thin  another,  next  to  friendfhip  wiih  the  Supreme 
Being,  it  is  this. 

But  when  a  mixture  of  minds  fo  beautiful  and 
fo  fweet  takes  place,-it  is  generally,  or  rat'  er  always 
the  refult  of  early  prepoiTefTion,  caiual  intercoufe,  or 
ialhor-,a  combination  of  fuch  caufes  as  are  not  to  be 
brought  togethf-r  by  iranagemcnt  or  defign.  This 
nobl  ^  plant  may  be  cultivated  j  but  it  mull  grow 
fpontaneoufly. 


ggStT^f 


CHAP.    XXXIII. 

On  Femak  Benevolence* 


X\  ATURE  is  equally  indulgent  to  every  rank  in 
life.  As,  in  her  vegetable  kingdom,  fne  has  kindly 
made  the  fweetefl  of  flowers  the  mott  common  ;  fo, 
in  the  moral  world,  (he  has  placed  the  lovely  virtue 
which  conduces  moft  to  human  happinefs,  equally 
within  the  reach  and  cultivation  of  the  rich  and  the 
p:or. 

Benerrlence  may  be  confidcred  as  the  rofe, 
which  is  found  as  beautiful  and  as  fragrant  in  the 
narrow  b.  rder  of  the  cottager,  as  in  the  ample  and 
magnificent  garJen  of  the  noble. 

Charity  is  a  theme  on  whirh  the  fublimeft  fpir- 
Its  have  rften  and  ably  difccuHed.  Many  admirable 
things  have  been  written  on  this  lovely  prefident  of 
the  angelic  virtu  s. 

Ihatgererous  rompafli.^n,  which  interefls  the 
heart  in  the  misfortune  of  others,  is  more  partirui/rly 
the  portion  of  women.    Every  thing  indices  them  to 


id5  sketches  of  the  SEX. 

generofity  and  pity.  Their  delicate  ftTifes  revolt  at 
the  prefence  of  diftreis  and  pain.  Objects  of  niifery 
and  averfion  difcompofe  the  fofi:  indolence  of 
their  minds.  Their  Ibuls  are  more  hurt  by  images  of 
forrow  and  of  fpleen,  than  tormented  by  their  own 
fenfibility  ;  they  mult  therefore  be  very  anxious  to 
afford  relief.  They  poffcfs,  befide.^,  in  a  high  de- 
gree, that  inftinftive  feeling,  which  operates  withput 
reafoning  ;  and  they  often  relieve^  while  men  ddibcr- 
ate.  Their  benevolence  is  perhaps  lefs  rational,  but 
it  is  more  adive  ;  it  is  alfo  more  attentive,  and  more 
tender.  What  v/oman  has  ever  been  w  anting  in  com- 
iniferation  to  the  unfortunate .? 


^ 


CHAP.   XXXIV. 

On  Feirkik  Fafriofif/fu 

Vy  ^^  ^^?'l  ^^^^  emmine  whetlier  women,  fo  fuf- 
ceprible  of  friendfiiip,  of  pity,  of  benevolence  to  in- 
dividuals, can  elevate  themWves  to  that  pitriot'fm, 
or  difr'terfled  love  of  one's  country,  which  embraces 
all  its  citizens  ;  and  to  that  philanthropy,  or  univer- 
fal  love  of  mankuid,  which  embraces  all  nations. 

Patriotifin  furely  ought  not  to  be  depreciated. 
It  IS  the  nobleft  fentiment  of  the  human  mind  ;  at 
lead  it  is  that  which  has  produced  the  greafeft  men, 
and  which  gave  birth  to  thofe  ancient  heroes,  whofe 
hiftory  ftiU  afconifiies  our  imagination,  and  accufes 
our  weaknefs.  Patriotilm,  no  doubt,  is  moft  com* 
monly  produceJ  by  the  ideas  of  intereft  and  proper- 
ty, by  the  remembrance  of  pafl  fervices,  by  the  hope 
of  fu:ure  honours  or  rewards,  and  a  certain  enthufi* 
afm  w>ich  rob^  menof  themfelves,  to  transform  their 
txiftence  entirely  ino  the  body  c f  the  (late. 

J'h'jfe  fentimen^s,  it  will  re-^dily  be  perceived,  do 
not  correspond  with  the  condition  of  wcratn.     la 


SKETCHKS  OF  the  SEX.  107 

aloioft  all  g,overnments  excluded  from  honors  and 
from  oilias,  poiltir^'d  of  littk  property,  andrcftrain- 
ed  by  the  laws  even  in  what  they  have,  they  cannot 
in  general  be  fuppcfed  to  be  eminent  for  patrictifm.^ 
Exifling  mora  in  themfelves,  and  in  the  objefts  of 
thrir  fciifibility,  and  perhaps  lefs  fitted  than  men  by 
nature  tor  tiie  civil  inftiiutions  in  which  they  have 
left  (hare,  they  mull  be  \cis  iufceptible  of  that  eathu- 
fnfm,  which  makes  a  man  prefer  the  ftjie  to  his 
family,  and  the  coUcdtive  bcdy  of  his  fellow  citizens 
to  himfelf. 

The  example  of  the  Roman  and  Spartan  ladies, 
and  the  wonders  perFornied  by  the  Du'ch  women  in 
the  revoUuion  of  the  Seven  Provinces,  clearly  prove 
that  the  [^Jorious  enthufrafm  of  liberty  can  do  all 
tnings ;  tnat  there  are  times  when  nature  is  arionilh- 
ed  at  herf:lf ;  and  that  great  virtuei;  ipring  from  great 
.'>amiti(-s. 

Th.it  univerf;:!  love  of  mankind  which  extends 
to  all  nations  and  to  all  ages,  and  which  is  a  kiud  of 
abllrac^  le niment,  fcems  to  correfpond  ft'll  lefs  with 
th^  character  of  females  than  patriotiim.  They  muH 
have  an  mn-:^e  of  v  hat  they  love. 

It  is  only  by  {ha  pov»  er  of  arranging  his  ideas, 
that  thephiloCoph'^T  is  able  to  overleap  fo  many  bar- 
riers ;  to  p.ifs  from  a  man  to  a  pec  pie  ;  from  a  people 
)  I'uman  kind  ;  from  the  time  in  wlii  h  he  liv^s,  to 
.  ;es  yet  un.x)rn  ;  and  from  w:  at  he  iee^,  to  what  he 
dcCs  not  fee. 

The  tender  f^x  do  not  love  to  fend  their  fouls  [o 

f'.r  a-waiderin'*r.  They  aficmlJe  their  fniimenr'and 

■      '       about  them,  and  cor.fine  their  affettions 

-lercJto  thtm  nvMt.     'lliofe  (bides  of  be- 

.K ;,  to  women,  are  out  of  na^u!'.^     A  mlfti  to 

is  mv-rethan  a  nation  ;  and  the  hour  in  whicli 

Uicy  live,  than  a  thoufand  ages  after  ceath. 


ic8  SKETCHES  ©f  the  SEX. 

CHAP.    XXXV. 

Of  TFomen  ■with  regard  to  Polijhed  Life. 


T. 


HERE  are  certain  qualities  which  have  gener- 
ally beea  ranked  among  the  focial  virtues,  but  which 
may  more  properly  be  called  the  inrtues  ofpoUJJjed  life* 
They  are  the  charm  and  the  bond  of  company  ;  and 
are  ufeful  at  all  times,  and  upon  all  cccafions.  They 
are,  in  the  commerce  of  the  world,  what  current  mo- 
ney is  in  trade*  They  are  fometimes  not  abfolutely 
n  Ci^ffiry,  butone  caa  never  fafely  be  wihout  them. 
They  always  procure  the  pofleffor  a  more  favourable 
reception. 

Such  is  that  mild  cmplacency  which  gives  a  foft- 
nefs  to  th-  character,  and  an  attraftive  iweetnefs  to 
tha  manners ;  that  indusgence  which  pardons  t^e 
jFaults  pf  oth?rs,  even  when  it  has  no  need  of  pardon 
itfelf ;  the  art  of  being  blind  to  the  vifible  foibles  of 
others,  and  of  keepii]g  ^he  fecret  cf  t^cie  which  are 
^  hidden  ;  the  ;^rt  of  concealing  our  advantages,  when 
we  humble  our  rivals  or  opponents,  and  of  dealing 
gen  ly  with  thofe  who  cannot  fubmit  without  being 
oftendf  d.  Such  is  that  facility  which  adopts  opin- 
ions it  never  had  ;  that  freedom  which  infpires  con- 
fidence ;  and  all  that,  pcliteneis,  in  fhort,  w.:ich  is 
fo  very  pleafing,  though  fometimes  no  more  than  a 
happy  lie. 

Politenfs  IS  a  part  of  the  female  charafter.  It  is 
covnefted  with  their  mind?,  with  their  manners,  and 
eve'i  wi^h  thir  intereft.  I'o  the  moft  virtuous  wo- 
man f  xiety  is  a  field  of  conqueft. 

%  Few  men  have  formed  the  prcjeft  of  making 
ev:'ry  body  happy,  and  fo  much  the  worfe  for  thofe 
who  have.  But  'many  women  have  not  only  formed 
fuch  a  fcheme,  bu^  have  f  icceeded  in  it. 

We  are,  in  gei^ier^l,  lb  much  the  morepolite^  as 
we  are  lefs  devoted  to  ourfdvcs,  aadmoreto  others  i 


SKETCHES  OF  tHE  SEX-  zc/} 

as  we  are  mere  attentive  to  opinion ;  as  we  are  mere 
zealous  to  be  diflinguifhed  ;  and,  perhaps,  in  propor- 
tion as  we  have  fewer  refources,  and  grer.ter  means 
of  having  them.  In  fhort,  whether  we  fpeak  ofiiv 
dividuals  or  of  nations,  of  the  two  fexes  or  the  differ-  - 
ent  mnks,  when  we  fay  they  are  pi.hte,  we  aiw.;ys 
fiippofe  them  to  be  idle,  becaufe  we  admit  the  necef- 
Cty  cf  their  living  together. 

Hence  the  art  of  regulating,  our  behaviour,  of 
adjufdng  our  looks,  our  words,  and  our  motions,  the 
need  of  attentions,  and  all  the  little  gratifications  of 
vanity. 

We  are  nanirally  inclined  to  pay  that  homage 
which  we  receive,  and  to  exact  that  which  we  pay. 
Thus  tie  delicacy  of  felf  love  produces  all  the  re- 
finements in  f  .ciety  ;  as  the  delicacy  of  the  fenfeS 
produr-es  nil  the  refnements  in  pleaiure ;  and  as  the 
delicacy  of  tafte,  which  is  perhaps  only  the  refult  of 
the  ct^.er  two,  produces  all  the  refinements  in  litera- 
ture, arts,  and  fcien^es. 

It  w'll  b^  e:fy  to  difcem  how  thefe  objefts  are 
connefted  with  one  another,  and  how  they  all  relate 
t)wmen. 

But  refined  jpolitenefs,  it  may  be  faid,  is  allied 
to  falfchood.  It  fubflitutes  the  expreJIion  of  feati^ 
UKnf  too  often  fi  r  lentiment  itibir. 

Flattery  is  common  to  both  fexes.  But  the  fiat- 
tcry  of  m  n  is  often  very  difgttjling  ;  that  of  women 
is  more  li^ht,  and  has  more  the  appearance  of  fenti- 
crtent.  Lven  when  it  is  overdone,  it  is  generally 
amu'"ng.  The  motive  and  the  manner  fave  them 
fiom  contempt. 

Men  generally  owe  their  franknefs  to  pride  ;  wo- 
men to  adilrefs.  The  o^e  fex  often  utters  a  truth, 
without  n!iy  other  view  than  truth  itfelf.  In  the 
mouth  of  the  other,  even  truth  itfelf  has  an  aim. 


X 


no  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

CHAP.   XXXVI. 

On  the  Idea  of  Female  Inferiority. 


It 


__  '  is  an  opinion  pretty  generally  eftablifhed,  that 
in  ftrength  of  mind,  as  well  as  of  body,  men  are 
grentiy  fuperior  to  women.  Let  us,  however,  duly 
confider  the  feveral  propenfities  and  paths  chalked  out 
to  each  by  the  Author  of  their  nature. 

Men  are  endowed  with  boldaefs  and  courage, 
v/omen  are  not.  The  reafon  is  plain :  thefe  are  beau- 
ties in  our  character  \  in  theirs  ihey  would  l)e  blem- 
ifhcs.  Our  genius  often  leads  to  the  great  and  the 
arduous;  theirs  to  the  fcft  and  the'pler.fmg ;  we 
bend  our  thoughts  to  make  life  co::V(ii  ient ;  they 
turn  theirs  to  make  it  eafy  and  agreeaMe.  If  the  en- 
clcnvments  allotted  to  us  by  nature  could  not  be  eafl- 
ly  acquired  by  women,  it  would  be  as  dilEcult  for 
us  to  acquire  thofe  peculiarly  Hotted  to  them.  Are 
we  faperior  to  them  in  w^nat  belongs  to  the  male 
charafter  ?  They  are  no  lefs  fo  to  us,  in  what  belongs 
to  the  female  charaftcr. 

Would  it  not  appe?r  rather  ludicrous  to  fay, 
that  a  man  was  endowed  only  with  inferior  abilities, 
becaufe  he  was  not  expert  in  ihe  nui-fmg  of  children, 
and  praQiiing  the  various  effeminacies  which  we 
reckon  lovely  in  a  woman  ?  Would  it  be  reafonable 
to  condemn  hiai  on  thefe  accounts  ?  Juft  as  reafona- 
]-jle  it  is  to  reckon  women  inferior  to  men,  becaufe 
their  talents  are  in  general  not  adapted  to  tread  the 
horrid  path  cf  war,  nor  to  trace  the  mazes  and  intrica- 
cies  cf  icience. 

The  idea  of  the  inferionty  of  female  nature,  has 
dra"v^n  after  it  feveral  others  t^e  mofcabilird,.  unrea- 
fonable.  and  humiliating  to  the  f"x.  Such  is  the 
pride  or  nian,  that  in  fome  countries  he  has  cocfider- 
ed  immortality  as  a  difiiuclion  too  gl  rious  for  wo- 
men.   Thus  xle^radipg  the  fair  paitacrs  of  his  na^ 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.  in 

ture,  he  places  them  on  a  level  witk  the  bealls  that 
perifhr^ 

As  the  Afiatics  have,  time  immemor'al,  con- 
jGdered  women  as  little  better  than  Haves,  thi<?  opinioa 
probally  origmated  among  them.  The  Mahometans^ 
both  ill  Afia  and  Kwrop  ,  are  laid,  by  a  great  variety 
of  writers,  to  entirtain  this  opinion. 

Lady  M  ntag-ie,  in  lier  Letters,  has  oppoM  this 
general  aC  rtion  of  tne  writers  concernint^  the  Ma- 
hoiietans  ;  and  fays  that  they  do  not  abfolutely  de- 
ny the  exiftence  of  female  fouls,  but  only  hold  them 
to  be  .^f  a  nature  inferior  to  thofe  of  mei ;  and  that 
they  enter  not  into  the  fame,  but  into  an  inferior  par- 
adile,  prepared  for  them  on  purpofe.  Lady  M6n- 
tagiie,  and  the  writers  whom  fhe  has  contradifted, 
way  p'^rhaps  be  both  right*  The  former  irighi  be 
tije  opinion  which  the  l^irks  brought  with  them  from 
Afia  ;  and  ^he  latter,  as  a  rellnement  upon  it,  they 
may  :  ave  adopted  by  their  intercoiu-fc  with  the  Eu- 
ropeans. 

This  opinion,  however,  has  had  but  a  few  vota- 
ries in  Europe  ;  though  fome  have  even  here  main- 
tai::ed  it,  and  aliigned  various  reafons  for  fo  doing. 
Among  t.^.efc,  tr.e  following  laughable  reafon  is  not 
the  leaft  particular—"  In  the   Revelations  of  St» 
John  the  divine,"  faid  one,  whofe  wife  was  a  defcen- 
dant  of  the  famous  Xantippe,*  "  you  will  find  this 
p2fr.:ge  :  j^nd  tiere  vjas  fiknce  in  heaven  for  about  the- 
fpace  of  half  an  hour.      Now  I  appeal  to  rnv  one, 
whether  that  could  pofTibly  have  happened,  hacl  there 
been  any  women  there?  And,  fince  there  are  none 
there,  charity  forbids  us  to  imagine  that  they  are  all 
in  a  worfe  place  7  therefore  it  follows  that  they  have 
no  immortal  part :  and  happy  is  it  for  ti;em,  as  they 
are  thereby  exempted  from  being  accountable  for  ail 
the  noife  and  diHurbance  they  have  raifed  in  this 
world." 

•  Xantippe,  wa<  the  v  If-  of  Sof-ates,  and  the  moH  famoui  ScJld 
4»>  fti«l4^uit/« 


ii:i  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

In  a  very  ancient  treatife,  called  the  Wifdoni'  6f 
all  Tira-^Sj  af(  ribed  to  Hiifh-ing,  one  of  the  earlieft 
kings  of  Perfia,  are  the  following  remarkable  words ; 
*^  The  p:iffions  of  men  may,  by  long  acqiaaintance, 
be  th  roughly  known  ;  but  the  paJTions  of  womea 
arj  hfcrutabl^^ :  therefore  they  ought  to  be  feparated 
from  men,  left  the  mutability  of  their  tempers  fhould 
infcft  others." 

Ideas  of  a  limil?r  nature  feem  to  have  been,  at 
this  time,  generally  diffufed  over  the  eaft.  For  we 
find  Sol  rmon,  dmoft  every  wliere  in  his  writings, 
exclaiming  ag^'.iill  women  ;  and,  in  the  Apocrypha,, 
the  author  cfScclvfiaiticus  is  fail  more  illiberal  ia 
his  refleftions. 

Boih  thefe  authors,  it  is  true,  join  in  the  moft 
enrrrptured  manirer  to  praife  a  virtuous  woman  ;  but 
take  ore  at  the  fame  time  to  let  us  know,  that  2ie: 
is  fo  gre-'t  a  rarity  as  to  be  very  feldom  met  with. 

N'^r  have  the  Afiat'cs  alone  been  addi^le^i  to  this 
illiberality  of  thinking  conerning  the  fex.  Satirift$ 
of  all  ages  and  countries,  wtille  (hey  flattered  them 
to  their  faces,  have  from  the'r  clofets  moft  profufely 
fcattere  Uheir  fpleen  ancl  ilUHat are  Sg^itiu  Xtz:p.  Of 
this  the  Greek  and  Roman  poets  afibrd  a  variety  of 
inftances:  but  theymuft  iieverthelefs  yield  t^  epalmto 
fome  of  our  moderns.  In  the  following  lines.  Pope 
has  outdone  every  one  of  them  : 

*^  Men  feme  to  pleafure^fcme  to  hiifmefs  take  * 
*^  But  every  woman  is  at  heart — a  rakeJ^ 

Swift  and  Dr.  Young  have  hardly  been  behind 
this  celebrated  fpleneic  in  illiberality.  They  perhaps- 
were  not  favourites  of  the  fair,  and  in  revenge  vented 
all  thdr  envy  and  fple^n  rgai:  ft  them.  But  a  more 
modern  and  accomplifhed  v/riter,  who  by  his  r:^nk  in 
life,  by  his  natural  and  acquired  f^r^r^/,  was  undov  bt- 
edly  a  favourite,  has  repaid  their  kindn.'  ft  by  taking 
every  cppor;  unity  cf  exhibiting  them  in  t^  e  mft  con- 
iemptible  light.     .'^'Aiinolt  evtry  man/*  fays  h^. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  trj 

**maybe  gamed  fome  way ;  alinoft  every  womaa 
any  way."  Can  any  thing  exhibit  a  flr^nger  cau- 
tion to  ike  fex  ?  It  is  fraug  t  with  inform  tion  ;  and 
it  Is  to  be  hoped  they  wiltufe  h  accordingly. 

CHAP,  xxxvn. 

On   Female    SimpHcitym 

VV  OULD  we  conceive  properly  of  that  fimplic- 
ity  which  is  the  fweetett  expreffion  of  a  well-inform- 
ed and  weil-meaning  mind,  which  every  where  dif- 
fufes  tenderneis  and  dclicaey,  fweetens  the  relations 
of  life,  and  gives  a  zeil  to  the  minuieit  duties  of  hu- 
manity, let  us  contemplate  every  perceptible  opera- 
tion of  nature,  the  twilight  of  the  evening,  the  pearly 
dew  drops  of  the  early  morning,  and  all  that  various 
growth  which  indicates  tre  genial  return  of  fpring. 
The  fame  principle  from  which  all  that  is  foft  and 
pleafing,  amiable  or  exquifite,  to  the  eye  or  to  the 
ear,  in  the  exterior  frame  of  nature,  produces  that 
talte  for  true  fimplicity,  which  is  one  of  the  moft 
ufeful,  as  well  as  the  moft  elegant  leffons,  that  ladies 
can  learn. 

'  .'3^,  is  perhaps,  the  finefl:  and  moft  perfefl 
.  of  funplicity.  ^  It  is  a  fate  of  genuine  na- 
ture throughout.  Ihe  feelinp;s  of  children  are  un- 
der no  kind  of  reftraint,  but  pure  as  the  fire,  free  as 
the  winds,  honeft  anil  open  as  the  fr.ce  cfiheaven^ 
Their  j'pys  incefl'antly  flow  in  the  thickeft  fuccefficn, 
and  their  grefs  only  feem  fle-ting  and  conv^ltfcent. 
lb  the  calls  of  nature  they  are  only  attentive. 
They  know  no  voice  but  hers*  Their  obedience 
to  ali  her  commands  is  prom.pt  and  implicit.  1  hey 
never  anticip:^!-  her  bounties,  nr^r  relinqu'.fli  her  plea- 
lures.  "\V  n  renders  them  ip  eperdant  of 
artifice,    i.            d  only  by  nature,  their  uianners. 


IT4  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

like  the  principle  that  produces  tnem,  are  alwayg 

the  fiime. 

Genuine  fruplicity  is  that  peculiar  quality  of  the 
mind,  by  which  Ibme  hippy  charafters  are  enabled 
to  uvoid  the  moft  diftant  approaches  to  every  thing 
like  aft'ectation,  incoafiftenGy,or  defign,  in  their  in- 
tercourfe  with  the  world.  It  is  much  more  eafily  un- 
derltood,  however,  than  defined  ;  andconfills  not  in 
afpecific  tone  of  the  voice,  movement  of  the  body,, 
or  mode  impofed  hy  euHiom,  but  is  the  natural  and 
permanent  eifect  of  real  modefly  and  good  fenfe  on 
tne  wtiole  behavior. 

This  has  been  coafidered,  in  all  a[^e5,  as  one  of 
thefirft  andmofl  captivaiing  ornaments  of  the  fex. 
The  favage,  the  Plebeian,  the  m  uiof  the  world,  and 
the  courtier,  are  agreed  in  ftamping  it  with  a  prefer- 
ence to  every  other  feiii?ie  excellence. 

Nature  only  is  lovely,  and  nothing-  unnatural 
ean  ever  be  amiable.  The  genuine  expreflions  of 
truth  and  nature  are  happily  calculated  to  imprefs 
the  heart  with  pkafure.  No  woman,  whatever  her 
other  qualities  maybe,  v\^as  ever  eminently  agreea- 
ble,, but  in  proportion  as  dillinguilhed  by  th-^fe.  The 
world  is  good-natur:d  eiKJUgh  to  give  a  l:\dy  credit 
for  all  the  merit  fhe  can  poflefs  or  acquire,  wii  hour 
afFeftation.  But  the  leali  Ihade  or  coloring  of  thi^ 
odious  foible  brings  certain  and  indeliaWe  obloquy 
on  the  moft  elegant  accomplifhments.  I'he  blackdt 
fufpicion  inevita.b!y  refts  on  every  thing  aflumed. 
She  who  is  only  an  ape  of  others,  or  prefers  formali- 
ty^ in  all  its  gigantic  and  prepofterous  ihapes,  to  that 
plain,  uiiembarafled  conduS  which  natureunavoidably 
produces,  uill  aiTuredly  provx)ke  an  abundance  of 
ridicule,  butnever  can  be  an  objecl  either  of  love  or 
clteem. 

The  various  artifices  of  the  fex  difcover  them- 
ftlves  at  a  very  early  period.  A  paflir n  f  r  expence 
and  {how  is  one  of  the  firfl  they  exhibit.-  This  gives 
them  a  taSe  for  refinement,  which  divefts  theiryoung 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  115 

hearts  of  alinoft  every  other  feeling,  renders  their 
te;npers  defultory  and  capricious,  rep^ulates  their  drels 
only  oy  the  moft  flintattic  models  of  finery  and  falh- 
ioD,  and  makes  their  company  rather  rirefome  and 
awkward,  than  pleafing  or  eleg.inf. 

No  one  pc^riiaps  can  form  a  more  ludicrous  con- 
traft  to  ever\^  thing  juft  and  graceful  in  nature,  than 
the  woman  'whofe  f:Ie  objeft  in  hfe  is  to  pifs  for  a 
Jini  lady.  The  attentions  (he  every  where  and  uni- 
tbrmly  pays,  expefts,  and  even  exafts,  are  tedious 
and  fatiguing.  Her  various  movements  and  attitudes 
are  all  adjufted  and  exhibited  by  rule.  By  a  happy 
fluency  of  the  molt  elegant  language,  (he  has  the  art 
ofimparting  a  momentary  dignity  and  grace  to  the 
raereft  trifles*  Studious  only  to  mimic  fuch  peculiar- 
ities as  are  moft  admired  in  others,  (he  afiects  a  lo- 
quacity peculiarly  flippant  and  teazing ;  becaufe  ' 
fcaT.ial,  routs,  li.jery^  fans,  china,  lovers,  lap-dogs, 
or  fquirrels,  are  her  conftant  themes.  Her  amufe- 
ments,  like  thofeofa  mag-pye,  are  only  hopping 
over  the  Came  Ipots,  prying  into  the  fame  corners, 
and  d jv  )uring  the  lame  (pecies  of  prey.  I'he  fim- 
pie  atid  beautiful  delineations  of  nature,  in  her  coun* 
tenance,^  geflure>,  and  v/hole  deportment  are  habitu^ 
ally  deranged,  dKtorted,  cr  concealed,  by  the  aftefted 
adopti  ^>n  of  whatever  grimace  or  deformity  is  lateft, 
or  moft  in  vogue. 

She  accuftoms  her  face  to  a  fimper,  which  every 
feparate  feanire  in  it  belies.  She  fpoils,  p^arhaps,  a 
blooming  complxion  with  a  profufion  of  artificial 
coloring.  She  distorts  the  moft  exquifite  fhape  by 
1  :)ads  cr  volumes  of  ufel^fs  drapery.  She  has  her  head, 
her  arms,  her  feet,  and  her  gait,  equally  touched  by 
art  and  afFeftation,.  into  what  is  called  ihttajhy  the 
fc/j,  or  ihe /ti/bion. 

She  little  confiders  to  what  a  torrent  of  ridicule 
and  farcafm  this  mode  of  condufh  expofcs  her ;  or 
how  exceedingly  old  an  !  holiow  that  ceremony  mull 
be,  wi:ich  is  nu  the  language  cf  a  warm  heart.  She 


ti6  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

cloes  not  reflec!:  how  infipid  thofe  fmiles  are,  tv^hijh 
iiidica  e  no  iatarnal  plealantry  ;  nvor  how  awkward 
thofe  graces,  which  ipriiig  not  from  hauits  of  good- 
nature and  t}e:ievolence.  Thus,  pertnefs  lucceeds  to 
delxa^y,  alTuraoce  to  modefcy,  and  ail  the  vagaries  of 
a  l.iliefs,  to  all  the  fenfibilities  of  an  ingenuous  mind. 

With  her,  puiiQifio  is  politenei's;  diffipaiion, 
jife ;  and  levity,  fpirit.  The  raiferable  and  contempt- 
ible drudge  of  every  tawdry  innovation  in  drefs  or 
ceremony,  fhe  inceliantly  miftakes  extravagance  for 
tafte,  and  finery  for  elegance. 

Her  favorite  examples  are  not  thofe  perfons  of 
acknowledged  fincerity,  who  fpeak  as  they  feel,  and 
?c\.  as  they  think;  but  fach  only  as  are  formed  to 
dazzle  her  fancy,  amufe  her  f.  nfes,  or  humor  her 
whims.  Her  only  ftudy  is  how  to  glitter  or  fhiue, 
how  to  captivate  and  gratify  the  gaze  of  the  multi- 
tude, or  how  to  fw,^il  her  own  pomp  and  importance. 
1  o  this  interefting  objefl  all  her  affiduities  and  time 
are  religioufly  devoted. 

How  often  is  debility  of  mind>and  even  badnefs 
of  heart,  conceale.i  un  er  a  fplendid  exterior!  The 
faircft  of  the  fpecies,  and  of  the  fex,  often  want  fiu- 
cerity;  and  wit h:ut  fincerity  every  other  qualifica- 
tic^n  is  rather  a  blerilh,  than  a  virtue,  cr  excellence. 
Sincerity  op-rates  in  the  moral,  fomewhat  like  the  fun 
in  t  >e  n'Uural  work'  ;  a  .d  produces  nearly  the  fame 
effects  on  ihe  difpofuions  of  the  human  heart,  which 
he  does  on  in irimate  objc-fts.  Vvherever  fincerity 
prevails,  and  is  felt,  all  the  failing  and  benevolent 
virtues  flourifh  moft, difcb.fe  their  fweeteft  luibre,  and 
diffufe  their  richefl:  fragrance. 

Heaven  has  not  a  finer  or  more  perfect  emblem 
on  '^arth,  than  a  woman  of  genuine  firaplicity.  She 
aff-fts  r.o  gra-^es  w  lich  are  not  infpired  by  fincerity. 
H  r  I  pinions  refult  rot  from  pafiioa  and  fancy,  but 
fiom  reafon  and  experience.  Candor  and  humility 
give  exp:nfion  to  her  heart.  She  ftruggles  for  no 
•kicid  of  chimerical  aedit^  difclaims  the  appearance  of 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  uj 

every  affeftation,  and  is  in  all  things  juft  what  fhe 
feems,  and  others  would  be  thought.  Nature,  not 
art,  is  the  great  ftanJari  of  her  ma'  ners;  and  her 
exterior  wears  no  varn  fh,  cr  embellifhment,  which 
is  not  the  genuine  fignature  of  an  open,  undefigning, 
and  benevolent  mind.  It  is  not  in  her  power,  be- 
c?.ufe  not  in  her  nature,  to  hide,  with  a  fawning  air, 
and  a  mellow  voice, her  averfion  or  con-tempt,  where 
her  delicacy  is  hurt,  her  tenr.per  ruffled,  or  her  feel- 
ir.gs  infuited. 

In  fhort,  whatever  appears  moil  amiable,  lovely, 
or  interelting  in  nature,  ar%  manners,  or  life,  origin- 
ates ia  limplicity.  What  is  c  rreftnei's  in  taite,  piiri- 
ty  in  morals,  truth  in  fcience,  grace  in  beauty,  but 
umplicKy  ?  It  is  th?  garb  of  innocence.  It  adorned 
the  firft  ages,  and  fliil  ador  s  the  infant  ftate  of  hu- 
manity. Without  funplicity,  woman  is  a  vixen,  a 
coquette,  an  hypocriie ;  fociely  a  mafquerade,  and 
pleafure  a  phantom. 

The  follQwing  f  ory,  I  believe,  is  pretty  general- 
ly known.  A  hdy,  v/hofe  hufband  had  long  been 
afflifted  v.vh  an  acute  but  li'^gering  difeafe,  fudden^ 
ly  f:'gned  fuchan  uncommon  tendemefs  for  him,ast/5 
nf  ivj  en  dying  in  iiis  ftead.  ^^he  liad  ev^^,  '{^(^  ad- 
x:r.-[i  t-  perfun Je  him  nr.t  to ^-tll ve  tnis  extraorc^inary 
inftan.ce  of  her  conjug..!  fidelity  and  att  .chm^nt.  It 
was  irftantiy  agreed  th.ey  (houid  mutually  fwallow 
Inch  a  quanufy  of  arfenic,  as  would  fpeedily  effedt 
their  dreadful  purpofe,  Sh^  compofed  the  fatal 
draught  bef  re  his  f?ce,  and  even  let  him  the  def- 
perate  example  ri  drinking  firft.     By  ti  is  device, 

"vhich.  h  id  all  fhe  aoperTarxe  of  the  greatefl:  aff  c- 

•d  n  and  c.andcur,  the  dr  f^s  only  were  relerved  for 

^  him,  ard  f^on  put  a  peri  d  t-o  h^  life. 

It  then  appe;.red  tr.at  the  dofe  was  fo  tempered, 

-as,  fr  m  the  w  ight  rf  the  principal  ingredient,  to  be 
deadly  only  a'    fhe  b'trcm,  which  fhe  h?d  ar'ful  y 

•arpr^pri^red  fr  h's  (hr>r  *.  Even  after  all  this  fiiieffe. 
Ihe  !i  z  d,  we  are  tcid,  his  inheritance,  and  iufult^d 
his  nicmory  by  a  fccond  m^ria^e. 


MB  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

CHAP,  xxsviir. 

On  the  milit  Magnanimity  «f  fftmeni 


A) 


.LATJ^  eminent  anatomifl^in  a  profefiionaldif- 

courle  on  the  female  frame,  is  faid  to  have  declared,. 
that  it  almott  appeared  au  aft  of  cruelty  in  nature  to 
produce  fuch  a  being  a^  woman.  Th\s  remark  may, 
indeedjbe  the  naturalexclamationofrrfmedfenrihiilty, 
incontemphting  the  various  maladies  to  which  a 
creature  of  fuch  delicate  organs  is  innvitabiyexpofed; 
bur,  if  we  take  a  more  enhirged  fttrvey  of  human 
exifcence,  we  (hall  be  far  from  difcovering  any  juit 
reafon  to  ari-aign  the  benevolence  of  its  provident  and 
gracious  Author.  If  the  delicr^cy  of  woman  muft  ren- 
der her  familiar  with  pain  and  nclmefs,  let  us  remem- 
ber that  her  charms,  her  plenfures,  a-d  her  happinefs, 
arife  alfo  from  the  fame  atrraftive  quality.  She  Is  a 
being,  to  ufe  the  forcible  and  elegant  ex'preffion  of  a 

*'  Fine  by  dcfcB^  and  amiably  iveaL'^ 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  ciiarm  by  which  fke  more 
effeflually  f  cures  the  tender  admiration  and  the  laft- 
ing  love  of  the  more  hardy  fcx,  than  her  fuperior 
indurance,  her  mild  and  graceful  fubmiffion  to  the 
common  evils  of  Ufe. 

Nor  is  this  thefole  advantage  fhe  derives  from  her 
gentle  fortitude.  It  is  the  prerogative  of  this  lovely 
virtue,  to  lighten  the  preffureof  iill  thofe  inccorrlgible 
evils  which  it  cheerfully  endures.  The  frame  of  man 
may  be  compared  to  the  fturdy  9aky  which  is  often 
Ihattered  by  refifting  the  tempeft.  Woman  is  the 
pliant  cfar^  which,  in  bending  to  the  ftorm,  eludes  its 
violence. 

The  accurate  obfervers  of  human  nature  will  rea- 
dily  allow,  that  patience  is  moft  eminently  the  cha- 
rafterifcic  of  woman.  To  what  a  fublime  and  afto- 
nilhing  height  this  \  irtue  has  been  carried  by  beings. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  179 

ofthemoft  delicate  tex'^ire,  wc  have  ftriking  exarn^ 
pl^s  in  the  many  female  martyrs  who  were  cxpoied, 
ia  the  firft  ages  of  chriflianity,  to  the  mcft  barbarous 
and  iingeriDg  torture. 

Nor  was  it  only  from  chrifiian  zeal  that  v;oman 
derived  the  power  of  defying  the  utmcft  rigors  of 
perfecution  with  invinicble  forti'udc.  Saint  Am- 
brofe,  in  his  elaborate  and  pious  treatife  on  tl  is  ftib- 
jcCt,  records  the  refolurion  of  a  fair  difciple  of  Py- 
thagoras, who,  being  fevercly  urged  by  a  tyrant  to 
reveal  the  fecrets  (  f  her  fex,  to  convince  him  that  no 
torments  fhould  reduce  her  to  fo  unworthy  a  breach 
of  her  vow,  hit  her  own  tongue  af under,  and  darted  it 
in  the  face  of  her  oppr-iT  r. 

In  confeqiience  of  thofe  happy  changes  "which 
have  taken  place  in  the  world,  from  the  progrels  of 
purified  religion,  the  inflexible  fpiiit  of  th.-  tender  fex 
is  no  longer  expofed  10  fuch  inhuman  trials.  But  if 
the  earth  is  happily  delivered  from  the  demons  of 
torture  and  fnperftition  )  if  beauty  nnd  innocence  are 
no  more  in  danger  of  being  dragged  to  perifh  at  the 
ftake— -perhaps  there  are  iituations,  in  female  life, 
that  require  as  much  patience  and  m;ignanimiry,  as 
were  formerly  exerted  in  the  fiery  torment*  of  the 
virgin  martyr.  It  is  more  difficult  to  fupport  an  accu- 
mulation of  mhiutc  infelicities,  than  any  fiugle  calani** 
ity  of  the  moft  terrific  magnitude. 


w. 


CHAP.  XXXIX. 
On  Female  Delicacy* 


^  ^  HERE  the  human  race  has  little  other  cul- 
tnre  t  an  what  it  receives  from  nature,  the  two  fcxes 
live  tog-th.-r,  uncrnfcious  of  ::lnu)ft  any  reftraint  oa 
their  worjs  oron  their  adions.  The  Greeks,  in  the 
heroic  aires,  as  apn:arsfrojn  the  wholchiftory  of  their 


no  SKETCHES  of  tke  SEX. 

condufl:,  were  totally  unacquainted  with  delicacy.  The 
Romans  in  the  infancyof.theirempire,  were  ^he  fame. 
TaritusinfcrmsusthattheancientGermarsh-^dnotfe- 
p  rate  beds  for  the  two  fcxes,  but  that  they  lay  pro- 
mifcuoufly  on  reeds  or  on  hearth,  fpread  along  the 
walls  of  their  houfes.  This  cufiom  ftili  prevails  in 
L^ipland  among  the  peafants  of  Norway,  Poland  and 
Ruffia ;  and  it  is  not  altogether  obliterated  in  fome 
pans  of  the  highlands  of  Scotland  and  of  Wales. 

In  Otaheite,  to  appear  naked  or  in  clothes,  are 
circumftances  equally  indifferent  to  both  fexes ;  nor 
does  2ny  word  in  their  language,  nor  any  r.ftion  to 
which  they  areprompied  by  nature,  feem  more  inde- 
licate or  repr  henfible  than  another.  Such  are  the 
effefts  of  a  total  want  of  culture. 

Effefts  not  very  d^ffimilarare,in  France  and  Italy, 
produced  from  a  redundance  of  it.  Though  thefe 
are  the  politefi:  countries  in  Europe,  women  there  fet 
themlelves  above  fhame,  and  deipife  delicacy.  It  is 
laughed  out  of  exifieace,  as  a  filly  and  unfalhionable 
wcaknefs. 

But  in  China,  one  of  the  politeft  countries  in  Afi:!, 
and  perhaps  not  eyen,  in  t  ?is  refpeft,  behind  France 
or  Italy,  the  cafe  is  quite  otherwiC%  No  human  be- 
ing can  be  more  delicate  than  a  Chinefe  woman  in  her 
drefs.  in  her  behaviour,  and  in  her  converfation  ;and 
fhould  (he  ever  happen  to  be  exp-^fed  in  e^iy  unbe- 
coming manner  fhe  f^^els  with  the  greaieft  poignancy 
the  aukwardnefs  of  her  fituation  ^  and  if  p  ffible,  co- 
vers her  face,  that  (he  m:iy  not  be  known. 

in  tt-e  midft  of  foinany  difccrdant  appearances, 
the  mind  is  perplexed,  ana  can  hirdly  fix  upon  any 
caufe  to  which  female  delicacy  h  to  be  .cTcribip-.  if 
we  izttenl^ however,  to  the  whole ai jimRl  creat'On,  if 
we  confider  it  attentively  wherever  it  falls  under  our 
obfervatioDj  it  will  difcover  to  us,  that  in  the  f^ip.ale 
there  i?  a  greater  d-gree  of  delicacy  or  ^oy  r-f^^ve 
than  in  the  male.  Is  not  this  a  proof,  th  t,'  through 
the  wide  ctteat  of  creation,  the  feeds  of  delicacy  arc 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  ur 

more  liberally  beftjwed  upon  females  thin  uoou 
males  ? 

In  the  remotefl  periods  of  which  we  have  any 
hiftorical  acoiint,  we  find  that  the  women  h?.da 
delicacy  to  which  the  other  fex  were  fcrang  :rs.  Re- 
becca veiled  herfetf  when  fhe  firft  approached  Ifaac 
her  Fuuire  hufb  md.  Many  of  the  fables  of  aoiiqui- 
ty  mark,  with  the  moft  dift'nguifiiing  charaders,  the 
force  of  female  delicacy.  Of  this  kind  is  the  fable 
of  Aiftreon  and  Di.ma.  Aftce^n,  a  famous  hunter, 
b^ingin  the  woods  with  his  hornds,  benting  for  game, 
accidentally  fpiei  Diana  and  her  nymphs  bathing  in 
a  river.  Prompted  by  curiofity,  he  ttole  silently  into 
a  neig'^.bouring  thicket,  that  he  might  have  a  nearer 
view  of  them.  The  goddefs  difcovering  him,  was 
fo  aifronted  at  his  audacity,  and  fo  much  afnamed  to 
have  been  fe^n  naked,  that  in  revenge  ihe immediately 
transformed  him  ink)  a  flag,'  fet  his  own  hounds  up- 
on him,  and  encouraged  them  to  overtake  and  de- 
vour him.  Befidesthi.*^,  and  other  fables,  and  hifto- 
rical anecdotes  of  antiquity,  their  poets  (eklom  exhi- 
bit a  female  cl'arafter  without  adorning  it  with  the 
f [races  of  modefty  and  delicacy.  Hence  we  may  in- 
er,  that  thef?  qualities  have  not  only  been  always 
cffential  to  virtuous  women  in  civilized  countries, 
but  w.  re  alfo  conftanily  praifed  and  erceemed  by  men 
of  f  nfii^.irty;  and  that  delicacy  is  an  innate  principle 
in  the  female  mind. 

There  are  fo  many  evils  attending  the  lofs  of 
virtue  in  won'. en,  and  fo  great  h^'  are  the  minds  of  that 
fcx  depraved  when  they  have  deviated  from  the  path 
ofr-ctitude,  that  a  general  contamination  of  their 
morals  may  be  confi.^ered  as  one  of  the  greateft  mif- 
t  '  at  can  befal  a  (late,  as  m  time  it  deftroys 

a  try  pu!;Hc  virtue  of  the  men.     Hence  all 

^  tors  have  flriftly  enforced  upon  the  fex  a 

i  puritv  of  manners ;  and  not  fatisfied  that 

t.  cv  i'j  v.\(\  :\-]\\]n  from  vice  only,  have  required 
ilirn  cvju  to  ih\\:i  every  appearance  of  it, 
XI 


112  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

Such,  in  fome  prrloJs,  were  the  1  W5  of  the  Ro- 
mans ;  and  fuch  were  the  ellecls  of  thefe  b.ws,  that 
if  ever  female  delicacy  flione  forth  in  a  corfpicuous 
manner,  it  was  perhaps  among  thofe  people,  after 
they  had  worn  oif  much  of  the  barbarity  of  their  firft 
ages,  and  before  they  became  contaminated  by  the 
we:ilth  and  manners  of  the  nations  which  they  plun- 
dered  and  fa'  jefle.^.  Then  it  was  that  we  find  ma- 
ny of  their  wcmen  furpafiing  in  modefty  almofl;  every 
thing  related  by  fable ;  and  thc:n  it^  was  that  their 
ideas  of  delicacy  wt^re  fo  highly  reiined,  that  they 
could  not  even  bear  the  fecretconfcioofnefs  of  an  in- 
voluntary crime,  and  far  kfs  of  having  tacitly  coo-* 
fentcd  to  it. 


22S= 


CHAP.  XL. 

On  Fcmak  Wit, 

VV  I^'  ^^  been  well  compared  to  the  dancing  of 
a  meteor,  that  blazes,  allures, and  mifleads.  Mcft 
certainly  it  alone  can  never  be  a  fleady  light ;  and  too 
probably  it  is  often  a  fatal  one.  Of  thofe  who  have 
refigned  theinfelves  to  its  guidance,  how  few  has  it 
not  betrayed  into  great  indifcretions  at  leaft,  by  in- 
flaming their  thirll  of  applaufe;  by  rendering  them 
little  nice  in  their  choice  of  company;  by  feduclng 
them  into  ilrokes  of  fatire,  too  oHenfive  to  the  per- 
fons  againfl  whom  they  were  Lweled,  not  to  be  re- 
pelled upon  the  authors  with  fall  ven^^eance;  and,  fi- 
nally, by  making  them,  in  confequence  of  thit  heat 
which  produces,  and  thit  vanity  v/h.ich  fofters  it, 
forgetful  of  thofe  cool  and  moderate  rules  that  ought 
to  regulate  their  conduft  ! 

A  very  few  only  have  b^en  endowed  with 
ju.lgment  and  temper  fuflicient  to  refirain, 
'the;.i:  from  indulging  "  the  ralh  de^^terity  of  wit," 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  123 

and  to  direft  it  to  purpofes  equally  agreeable  and  be- 
nehcial.  But  one  thing  is  cercain— -that  witty  men, 
for  the  m:ft  pirt,  have  had  few  friends,  though  mnny 
admirers.  Iheir  converfation  has  been  courted, 
while  th^ir  2.biliiies  have  been  feared,  or  their  cba- 
rafters  hated— or  both.  In  tru^h,  the  lajl  have  fel- 
dom  merited  aft  ^dion,  even  when  the  firft  have  ex- 
cited efteem.  Sometimes  their  hearts  have  been  lo 
bad,  as  at  length  to  bring  their  heads  into  diigrace. 
At  any  rate,  the  faculty  termed  wit  is  common- 
ly boked  on  with  a  (uipici  jus  eye,  as  a  two-edged 
Iword,  from  wliich  not  even  the  facrednefs  of  friend- 
Ihip  can  feoure. 

It  is  generally  more  dread-d  in  women  than  in  men. 
In  a  Mrs.  Rowe.  we  may  prefume,  it  was  not.  To 
great  bril'iancy  of  imagination,  that  argelic  female 
j.:i»-ied  yet  greater  gcodneis  of  difpofition;  and  never 
wrote,*  nor  w^.s  evcr  fnppoled  to  have  fud,  in  her 
whole  life,  an  ill-naturf.d,or  even  an  indelicate  thing. 
Of  fuch  a  woman,  with  ail  her  talents,  none  could  be 
afni  i.  In  her  company,  it  mufl  have  been  inipofiible 
not  to  feci  refpecl.  If  aught  on  eanh  can  prefent 
the  image  of  celefLiiil  excellence  in  its  fofteft  array,  it 
is  iurely  an  accompl'JJjcd  woman  ;  in  whom  purity  and 
meeknefs,  iniellgence  and  modefly,  mingle  their 
charm?. 

Men  of  the  befl  ftnfe,  howevcr,have  l:>een  ufually 
av-'fle  to  the  thcu::;ht  of  marrying  a  witt_^  female. 
Were  they  afrail  c-f  bei.*:g  outfhone?  Some  of  them 
perhaps  might  be  fo,  but  many  of  ihem  afted  on  dif- 
ferent motives.  M  n  who  un.ierftand  tl'.e  fcienceof 
rlomeftic  happinels,  know  that  its  very  firft  principle 

ealie.  Of  that  indeed  we  grow  f(;nder,  in  every 
condition,  as  we  advance  in  life,  and  as  the  heat  of 
youth  abates.  But  we  cannot  be  eafy  where  we  are 
not  fafe.  Wenre  neverfafe  in  theccmpanvof  a  critic; 
and  almoft  every  wit  is  a  critic  by  profeflion.  In 
fuch  company  we  are  nit  at  liberty  to  unbend  our- 
felves.     All  mufl  be  the  flraining  of  Ilud  v,  or  the  anx- 


124  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

\ety  of  apprehenfioD.  Kow  painful!  Where  the 
heart  may  not  expand  anJ  open  itfelf  with  freedom, 
farewel  to  real  friendih^p,  farewel  to  convivial  de- 
light! But  to  I'uffer  thivS  reitraint  at  home,  what  mif- 
ery  1  From  the  brandifliingsof  wit  in  the  hand  of  ill- 
nature,  of  imperious  p^flion,  or  of  unbcunded  vanity, 
who  would  not  flee?  Butv/hen  that  weapon  is  bran- 
diihed  at  a  hulband,  is  it  to  be  wondered  if,  from  his 
own  houfej  he  takes  fhelter  in  the  tavern !  He  fought 
a  friend,  he  expefted  to  be  happy  in  a  reafonabb 
coLcparion  :  he  h;is  found  a  perpetual  fatirifl,  or  a 
lelf-iufficient  prattler.  Hov/does  one  pity  fuch  a  man, 
when  one  fees  him  in  continual  fear  on  his  own  ac- 
'  lint,  and  that  of  his  friends,  and  for  the  poor  lady 
cr[t:lf;  left,  in  the  run  of  her  difcourfe,  {he  fhouli 
be  guihy  ohibne  petulence  cr  feme  iudifcretion,  that 
would  expofe  h^r,  and  h  ur t  them  all  i 

But  take  the  matter  at  the  beft,  there  is  ftill  ail 
the  difference  in  tlie  world  between  the  entertainer 
of  an  evening,  and  a  partner  for  hfe.  Of  the  latter, 
a  fober  mind,  fteady  attachment,  and  gentle  manners, 
joined  to  a  good  underftanding,  will  ever  be  the  chief 
recommendation ;  whereas  the  qualities  that  fparkle 
will  be  often  fufficient  for  the  former. 


=:^f;^2a= 


CHAP.  XLL 

On  the  Influence  of  Female  Society, 

X  HE  company  of  ladies  has  a  very  powerful  in- 
fluence on  the  fentiinents  and  conduct  of  men. 
Women,  the  fruitful  fcurce  of  half  our  joys,  and  per- 
haps of  wz^r^  than  half  our  forrows,  give  an  elegance- 
to  our  manners,  and  a  relifh  to  our  pleafures.  They 
(both  cur  affiiftions,  and  foften  our  cares.  Too  much 
of  their  company  will  render  us  effeminate,  and  in- 
faliibly  Itafiop  upon  us  many  fignatures  of  the  female 


SKETCMES  OF  the  SEX.  125 

nature.  A  rough  and  unpclifhed  behavour,  as  well 
aiJ  ilovenlinels  of  perlon,  will  certainly  be  the  couTe- 
quenceof  ail  almoli  coDltant  exclufion  frora  it.^  By 
fpeadiug  a  reafoivable  portion  of  cur  tini€  in  ihe 
company  of  women,  and  another  in  the  company  of 
our  own  fex,  we  ihrfi  imbibe  a  proper  fl-iare  of  the 
Ibftnels  of  the  female,  and  at  the  fame  time  retain 
t^ie  firmnefs  and  conftancy  of  the  male. 

"  We  believe  th.it  is  it  proper,'*  fays  an  amiable 
writer,  who  has  ftu^ied  the  human  heart  with  furceft, 
"for  perfjnsof  the  fame  age,  of  the  fame  fexof  fimilar 
dilpolitions  and  purfuits,  to  aiT^ciate  together."  But 
here  we  feem  to  be  deceived  by  words.  If  we  cor.l'ult 
nature  and  comm.ou  fenfe,  we  fhall  find,  that  the  true 
propriety  and  harmony  of  Ibcial  life  depend  upon  the 
conceclion  of  people  of  ^//^^/772fd:fpofiticns  and  charac- 
ters judicioufly  blended  together.  Nature  hath  made 
no  individual,  and  no  clafs  of  people,  iLdepen.ient  of 
the  reft  of  their  fpecies,  or  luffici.nt  for  their  own 
happinefs. 

*'  l!ach  fex,  clkHi  characler,  each  period  of  life, 
have  their  feversl  advar.tages  and  difadvantages  ;and 
that  union  is  the  happieft  and  mofi:  proper  where 
wants  are  mutually  fuppUed. 

"  The  fair  fcx  (liould  natur3lly  hcpe  to  gain  from 
our  converlktion  knowledge,  wifdom,  and  fedatenefs; 
and  they  fhould  give  to  us,  in  exchange,  humanity, 
politenef?,cheerfulnefs3  taile,  nnd  fentiment. 

"The  levity,  the  raflmefsjand  felly  of  early  life 
are  tempered  wi  h  the  gravity,  the  caution,  and  the 
wifdom  of  age;  while  the  timidity,  ccldnefs  of  heart, 
and  languor  incident  to  iiecUning  years,  are  fupport- 
ed  ard  ail'ifled  by  the  courage,  the  warmth,  and  the 
vivacity  of  you* h." 

As  llitle  focial  intervtourfe  fubfifted  betw^een  the 
".vo  fexes,  in  the  more  early  ages  of  antiquity,  we 
'd  the  men  lefs  court:. ous,  and  the  women  lefs  en- 
gaging.    Vivacity  and  cheerfulnefs  feem  hardly  to 
have  exifted.    Even  the  Ribybnians,  who  appear  to 
XI  % 


i'26  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX- 

have  allowed  their  women  more  lu:)erty  than  any  of 
the  ancients,  ieem'not  to  have  lived  with  them  in  a 
friendly  an  J  familiar  manner.  But,  as  their  inter- 
courfe  with  them  wa's  confiderably  greater  than  that 
of  th?  neighbouring  nations,  they  acquired  thereby  a 
polifh  and  refinement  unknov/a  to  any  of  the  people 
who  furrounded  them.  ^Ihs  manners  of  both  fexcs 
were  fofter,  and  better  calculated  to  pleale. 

They  likewife  paid  more  attention  to  cleanlinefs " 
and  drels. 

After  the  Greeks  became  famous  for  their  know- 
ledge of  the  arts  and  fciences,  their  rudeneis  and 
barbarity  were  only  foftened  ^fow  degrees.  It  is  not 
therefore  arts,  fciences,  and  learnings  but  the  com- 
pany of  the  other  f?x,  that  forms  the  manners  and 
renders  the  man  agreeable. 

The  Romans  were,  for  fome  time,  a  community 
v/ithoutv/omen,  and  conlequentiy  without  any  thing 
to  foften  the  ferocity  of  male  nature.  The  Sabine 
virgins,whom  they  had  liolen,appear  to  have  infufed 
into  them  the  Srtt  ideas  of  polieenefs.  But  it  v/asmany 
•c^.ges  before  this  poHtenels  banifhed  the  rcughnefs^ 
cfthe  warrior,  andaffumed  the  refinement  of  the 
gentleman. 

Dming  the  tiirxcs  of  chivalry,  female  influence 
was  at  the  zenith  of  its  glory  and  perfeftion.  It  was- 
the  fburce  of  valour,  it  gave  birth  to  politeneis,  it 
awakened  pity,  it  called  forth  benevolence, it  reftrift- 
ed  the  hand  ofoppreflion,  and  meliorated  the  hum.an* 
heart.  '*^  I  cannot  approach  my  miflrefs,"  iiid  one,' 
**  ull  I  have  done  feme  glorious  deed  that  may  deferve 
her  notice.  Actions  fliouid  be  the  melTengers  of  the 
heart ;  they  are  th-?  homage  due  to  beauty,  and  they 
only  ihculd  difcover  love.'* 

Marfan,  infcrucLing  a  young  knight  how  to  be- 
have fo  as  to  gain  the  favour  of  the  fair,  has  thefe  re- 
markable V7ords  : — "  When  your  arm  is  raifed,  if 
your  lance  fail,  draw  your  uvord  directly;  ?.nd  let 
heaven  and  hdl  rcfound  with  the  clafii,    Lifelefs  is 


SKETCHES  ov  the  SEX.  127 

the  foul  which  beauty  cannot  animate,  and  weak  is 
'he  arm  which  cannot  fight  valiantly  to  defend  it/* 

The  Ruflkns,  Poles,  and  even  the  Dutch,  pay' 
itfs  attention  to  their  females  tl:an  any  of  their  neigh-, 
hours,  and  are,  by  coidequecce,  lefs  diftinguiflied. 
for  the  graces  of  their  perlbus,  and  the  feelings  of 
their  hearts. 

The  lightsefs  of  their  food,  and  the  falubrityof 
their  air,  have  been  afTigned  as  reafons  for  the  vivacity, 
and  cheerfulnefs  of  the  French,  and  their  fortitude 
in  fupporting  their  fpirits  through  all  the  adverfe 
circumtiances  of  this  world.  But  the  conftant  mix- 
ture of  the  young  and  old,  of  the  two  fexes,  is  no 
doubt  one  of  the  principal  reafons  why  the  cares  and 
ills  of  Itfe  fit  lighter  on  the  fh^ulders  of  that  fantaflic 
people,  thanon  thofeof  any  other  country  in  the  world^^ 

The  French  reckon  an  excurfion  dull,  and  a  par- 
ty of  pleafure  without  rehfli,  unlefs  a  mixture  of 
both  lexes  join  to  compcfe  in.  1  he  French  women 
do  not  even  withdraw  from  the  table  alter  meals } 
nor  do  the  men  diicover  that  impatience  to  have  them 
difmiffed,  which  they  fo  often  do  in  England. 

It  is  alledged  by  thofe  who  have  no  relifli  for 

^nverf.tion  of  the  fair  fjx,  that  their  prefence 
the  freedom  of  fpeech,  and  rellrains  the  jolHty 
CI  mirth.  But,  if  the  converfation  and  the  mirth  are 
decent,  if  the  company  are  capable  of  relifliing  any 
thing  but  w:ne,  the  very  reverfe  is  the  cafe.  Ladies, 
in  :?:eneral,  are  not  only  more  cheerful  than  gen- 
i?,  but  mere  eager  to  promote  mirth  and 
t,^^..  humour.^ 

So  powerful,  indeed,  are  the  company  and  con- 
rerfation  of  the  fair,  in  dilTufing  happinefs  and  hi- 
l.iiitv,  tl^at  even  the  cloud  which  hangs  on  the 
t'>-     '   '••  '        ~"     "1iman,  begins  in  the  pre- 

i;  .  .  devoting  ro  the  ladies  a 

J  e  ot  lime  man  was  formerly  done  by 

t       .  ;IS.  .,    • 

i  hgugh  the  isiluence  of  the  fexes  b€  reciprocat. 


n3  SlCETCHES  OF  THE  SEX. 

yet  that  of  the  ladies  is  Crrtainly  the  greateft.  How 
often  may  one  fee  a  company  of  men,  who  were  di(- 
pofed  to  be  riotous,  checked  all  at  once  into  dt  cency 
by  the  accidental  entrance  of  an  amiable  woman ; 
while  her  good  fenfe  and  obliging  deportment  charms 
them  int^  at  leaft  a  temporary  conviftion,  that  there 
is  nothing  fo  beautiful  as  female  excellence,  nothing 
fo  delightful  as  female  con verfation,,  in  its  belt  form! 
Were  fuch  c^nviftion  frequently  repeated,  what 
might  v/e  not  exprft  fr^.m  it  atlail? 

"  Where  Virtiae,''  faid  an  ancient  philcfopher, 
*^  to  appear  am.ongft  men  in  vifible  fhape,  what  vehe- 
ment defires  would  fhe  enkindle !  **  Virtue  exhibited 
without  aifeftation,  by  a  lovely  young  perfon,  of  im- 
proved underllanding  and  gentle  manners,  may  be 
laid  to  appear  with  the  moft  alluring  afpeft,  fur- 
rounded  by  the  Graces, 

It  would  be  an  eafy  matter  to  point  out  inftances 
of  the  moft  evident  reformation,  wrought  on  particu- 
lar men,  by  their  having  happily  conceived  a  pafficn 
for  virtuous  women. 

To  form  the  manners  of  men,  various  caufes 
contribute;  but  nothing,  perhaps,  fo  much  as  the 
turn  of  the  wom.an  with  whom  they  converfe.  Thofe 
who  are  moft  converfant  v/ith  women  of  virtue  and 
underftanding,  will  be  always  found  the  moft  amia- 
ble characters,  ether  circumftances  being  fuppof- 
ed  alike.  Such  fociety,  beyond  every  thing  elfe, 
rubs  off  the  comers  that  give  many  of  our  fex  an  un- 
gracious roughnefs.  It  produces  a  polifh  more  per- 
-fcft,  and  m.ore  pleafiog  than  that  which  is  received 
from  a  general  commerce  with  th.e  world.  ^  1  his  laft 
is  often  fpeciou?,  but  commonly  fuperficial.  The 
other  is  the  refult  of  gen'ler  feehngs,  and  more  hu- 
manit)%  The  heart  itfelf  is  moulded.  Habits  of 
undijtiembied  ccuriefy  are  formed.  A  certain  flow- 
ing  urbanity  is  acquired.  Violent  paffions,nifh  oaths, 
coarfe  jells,  indellci^.te  language  of  every  kind^  are 
prtcluded  and  difrelifhed* 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  129 

Undcrllanding  und  virtue,  by  being  often  con«- 
templatedin  the  molt  eogeging  lights,  have  a  fort  of 
aflimiladng  power.  Let  it  not  be  luppofed, however, 
th;it  tne  men^  here  defcribed,  will  becoine  feminine. 
Their  fentiments  and  deportment  will  only  coctraft  a 
grace  ;  their  principles  will  have  nothing  ferocious  ot 
forbidding  ;  their  afleftions  will  be  chafte  and  footh- 
icg  at  the  lame  infiant.  In  triat  cafe,  the  gentleman^ 
the  man  of  worthy  and  the  religious  man,  will  all  melt 
inienfiDly  a?.d  fweetly  into  one  another. 

The  French  and  Italiiia  nobility  are  generally 
educated  in  the  drawing-rocrr.,  at  the  toilette,  and 
^laces  of  public  amuf3ment,where  they  are  couftantly 
the  company  cf  women. 

1  he  E..gl:fh  noh  itty  and  gentry  receive  their 
education  at  the  Univerfity,  a.:d  at  Nev^market^ 
where  books,  grooms,  and  jockies  muft,  of  courfe, 
be  their  ocmpanions. 

Some  mode  cf  education, between  thefe  two  ex* 
-mes,  would  have  a  tendency  topreferve  thedigni^ 
ty  of  the  man,  as  well  as  to  infufe  a  fuiiicient  quan* 
lity  of  the  addrefs  of  the  woman. 

Female  fcciety  gives  men  a  tafte  for  cleanlinefe 
an i  elegance  cf  perion.  Our  anccftors,  who  kept? 
but  little  company  with  their  women,  were  not  only 
flovenly  in  their  drefs,  but  had  their  countenances 
disfigured  with  long  beardc.  By  female  influence, 
however,  beards  v/ere,  in  procefs  of  time^  mutilated 
down  to  mufiaches.  As  the  gentlemen  found  that 
the  ladies  had  no  great  relifh  tor  muftaches,  which 
were  the  relicks  cf  a  beard,  they  cut  and  curled  them 
into  various  fafhion?,  to  render  them  more  agreeable. 
At  lail,  howevf  r,  finding  fueh  labor  vain,  tiiey  gave 
them  up '  hcgether.  But  as  thofe  of  the  three  learn- 
ed profellions  were  fuppofed  to  be  endowed  with,  or 
at  lead  to  ftand  in  i^ed  of,  more  wifdom  than  other 
P^'  '  '  •'  '  "  '  /{  had  always  been 
d  .  chin,  tofupply  this 

niaxk  Ql  Ciiiuictiou,  which  they  had  Igltj  they  contrs 


130  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

ved  tofmother  their  heads  in  enormous  quaniltes  oF 
frizzled  hair,  that  they  might  bear  the  greater  refem- 
blanci  to  an  owl,  the  bird  lacred  to  wiidom  and 
Minerva. 

To  female  fcciety  it  has  been  objected  by  the 
learned  and  ftudious,  that  it  enervates  the  mind,  and 
givcs  it  fuch  a  turn  for  trifling,  levity,  and  diflipation, 
as  readers  it  altogether  unfit  for  that  application 
which  is  neceffary  in  order  to  become  eminent  in  any 
of  the  fciences.  In  proof  of  this  they  allege,  that  the 
greateft  philofop':ers  feldom  or  never  were  men  who 
enjcyed,  or  were  fit  for,the  company  or  converiation 
of  women.  Sirlfaac  Newton  hardly  ever  converfed 
with  any  of  the  fex.  Bacon,  B  yle,  des  Cartes,  and 
many  others,  confpicucus  for  their  learning  and  ap- 
plication,  were  but  indiffet-ent  companions  to  the  fair. 

It  is  certain,  irdeed,  that  the  youth  who  devotes 
his  w}:ole  time  and  attention  to  female  ccnvcrfation, 
and  the  Utile  offices  of  gallantry,  never  diflinguifhes 
himfelf  in  the  literary  world.  But  nctv/ithftandiiig 
this,  without  the  fatigue  and  application  offevere 
fiu  :y,  he  cfi en  obtains, by  female  intereft,  that  which 
is  denied  to  the  merited  improvements  acquired  by 
the  labor  of  many  years. 


r==s£K3255i= 


CHAP.  XLII. 

Of  the  Brltijb  Ladies  at  different  Periods. 

VV  HAT  polifbed  nations  underfiand  by  fcciety, 
appears  to  have  been  little  known  in  England,  be- 
fore the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  1  his  backwardnefs 
may  in  f  )me  meafure  be  afcribed  to  cur  continental 
wars  with  France  and  v/ith  Scotland.  By  our  quar- 
rels with  the  one,  we  wer.?  fhut  out  from  foreign  in- 
tercourfe  ;  and  by  our  hoftih:ies  with  both,  we  were 
diverted  from  cultivating  the  arts  of  peace* 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX-  r^t 

The  fpTit  of  Chivalry,  v,'\nch  produced  fuch 
amazing  effefts  on  the  Coctinent,  was  more  weakly 
felt  here.  Edward  ill.  had  indeed  eftablifhed  the 
order  of  the  Garter.  But  real  wars  allowed  the 
toghts  little  time  for  the  mock  eiKounter,  or  the 
ge  lerous  vifions  of  rom:^ntic  heroifm.  Love  was  ftill 
a  iimple  pailion,  which  led  the  fh  rteft  way  to  its 
gratification,  and  generally  in  conformity  with  law 
and  cuftom.  It  partook  little  of  imagination  ;  and 
confequently,  required  few  perfections  in  its  objefl:. 
It  afpired  neither  at  angels  nor  goddeffes. 

'1  he  wom.en,  who  flill  retained  all  their  native 

.aocence  and  modefty,  were  regarded  only  as  wives 
aad  mothers.  Where  qualifications  are  not  r/eman^ 
dfdj  they  will  never  be  found.  The  accompftlluiients 
of  the  fex  entitled  them  to  no  other  characltr  ;  and 
it  had  perhaps  been  happy  for  both  (exes,  if  they 
c.uld  have  remained  in  fuch  a  ftate  of  fimplicity. 

-  Ttie  Sc3ts  by  means  of  their  alliance  with  France, 
which  had  fubfilled  for  fcv..ral  centuries,  and  that 
fpirit  of  adventure,  which  has  at  all  times  led  then:! 
abrv)ad  in  qaeft  of  r- putation,  civil  or  military,  may 
he  fupp jfed"  at  this  time  to  have  been  better  acquain- 
t<:d  with  the  elegances  of  life,  than  their  wealthy  and 
p:)werful  neighbors.  Accordingly  we  find,  in  the 
court  of  James  IV.  a  ta!!:e  in  mufic,  in  letters,  and  in 
gallantry,  to  which  the  great  monarch  of  the  houfe  of 
Tudor  and  his  haujihty  barons  were  yet  Grangers. 

But  the  political  (late  of  both  kiiigJoms  was  an 
infuperable  bar  to  ?11  liberal  intercourf^.  I'he  bar- 
ons, or  chiefs,  were  hoftile  to  thj  court,  from  whxh 
they  had  every  thing  to  fear,  and  nothing  to  h'^pe. 
They  were  dreaded  by  it  in  their  turn ;  they  looked 
from  the  walls  of  their  c  iflles  with  a  jealous  eye  on 
each  other;  they  never  went  abn:)ad,  but  attended 
by  a  numer.)us  train  of  domellxs.  They  viifileJ 
eachoth  r  with  the  ttate,  and  the  diflidence  of  neigh- 
boring princes.  Their  m^7fTw^^/  were  con traiSled  from 
family  motives,  and  their  ccurtfhips  were  coadufted 


132  SKETCHES  OF  thk  SEX. 

with  the  greateftyc/rm,  end  the  moft  diftant  refp3<fl. 
They  took  liberties  indeed  with  the  women  of  infe- 
rior condition,  and  they  rioted  in  th  ughtle^s  jiUity 
with  their  dependants.  But  the  ideas  of  inferi  Tity 
and  dependance  are  incompatible  with  thofe  of  focie- 
ty  and  gallaniry. 

Henry  Vil.  by  curbing  the  hoftile  fpirit  of  the 
barons,  by  abridging  their  power,  by  diminifhing 
their  retainers,  by  extending  commerce,  by  encour- 
agirg  ngriculture,by  fecuring  peaceto  his  fubjects, 
at  home  and  abroad,  prepared  the  v/ay  for  learning, 
arts,  and  elegance.  But  the  tafce  of  the  nation  was 
not  yet  ripe  for  their  reception  ;  and  the  temper  of 
his  fon,  Henry  VIII.  was  not  highly  favorable  to  fuch 
a  revolution.  That  prince,  however,  by  his  t^fte  for 
tournaments,  foftered  the  fpirit  of  chivalry.  By  his 
magnificence  and  profufion  he  drew  the  nobility  to 
court ;  and,  by  his  interviews  with  the  emperor,  and 
the  French  king,  he  roufed  their  emulation  of  foreign 
elegance.  They  were  fmitten  with  the  love  of  letters 
and  of  gallmtry.  The  Earl  of  Surrey,  in  p:-n-t.icnhr, 
celebrated  his  mijlrefs  in  his  verfes,  and  defended  her 
honor  with  his  fword,  againft  all  who  dared,  with  un- 
hallowed hps,  to  profane  her  immaculate  name. 

The  women  in  this  reign  Ukewife  brgan  to  dif- 
cover  a  tafte  lor  literature  and  poiitenefs.  J'he  cnm- 
tefs  of  Richmond,  mother  to  Henry  VIL  and  who 
furvived  him,  had  fhev/n  the  way.  She  tranflated 
two  pious  treanfes  from  the  French  ;  and  was  a  great 
patronefs  of  learning.  Elizabeth  Blount,  miftrefs  to 
Henry  VIIL  was  a  woman  of  elegant  accomphjhmenfs  * 
and  his  lafl:  queen,  Catherine  Parr,  wrote  with  fa- 
cility both  in  Latin  and  Engliih,  and  appears  befides 
to  have  been  a  woman  of  addrefs. 

But  the  houfe  of  Sir  Thomas  More  feems,  in  a 
more  particular  manner,  to  have  been  the  habitation 
of  the  Mufes,  and  even  of  the  Graces.  He  was  pof- 
fefled  of  all  the  learning  of  antiquity,  and  was  pious 
even  to  weaknefs.    But  neither  his  religion,  nor  his 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  13^ 

lesrning,  foared  his  temper,  nor  blunted  his  tafte  for 
fociety.  His  i^^eas  of  the  female  character  would  do 
honor  to  a  gentleman  of  the  prelent  age.  "  May 
you  meet  with  a  wife  net  ftupidly  filent,  nor  always 
prattlir'^  uonleiie.  May  flie  be  learned,  if  poiTible, 
or  at  iea:  t  cap.ible  of  being  made  fo.  A  woman,  thus 
accomplifheJ,  will  always  be  drawing  fentimenfS  and 
maxims  out  of  the  bell  authors.  She  will  be  ^er/tif^ 
in  all  the  changes  of  fortune.  She  will  neither  be 
blown  up  with  profperity,  nor  broken  in  adverfity. 
You  will  find  in  her  aneven,cheerful5good-humore3, 
fi-iend,  and  an  agreeable  companionfor  life.  She  will 
infufe  knowledge  into  your  children  with  their  milky 
and  from  their  infarcy  train  them  up  to  wifdom* 
Whatever  company  yen  are  en^^aged  in,  you  will  long 
to  l:e  at  home  ;  and  will  retire  vrtth  delight  from  the 
Ibciety  of  men  into  the  h/om  cf  a  woman,  who  is  fo 
dear,  fo  knowing,  and  fo  amiable.  If  (he  touches  her 
lute,  and  more  particularly  if  fhe  fieigs  to  it  any  of 
her  own  compofitions,  it  will  foothe  your  Ibhtude, 
and  her  vo:c2  will  found  fweeter  in  your  ear  than 
the  fong  of  the  nif^htingale.  You  will  fpend  whole 
days  and  nights  with  pleafjre  in  her  company,  and 
you  will  be  always  hadicg  out  new  beauties  in  her 
mind.  She  will  keep  your  foul  in  perpetual  lerenity. 
She  will  relirain  iti  mirth  from  being  diflblute,  and 
prevent  its  melancholy  from  becoming  painful." 

Acer  rding  fo  thefe  ideas  he  educated  his  three 
daughters,  whofe  virtues  and  talents  appear  to  have 
merited  all  his  care.  Thsy  lived  for  fome  time  in 
one  houfe,  with  their  father,  their  hufbands,  and 
their  children,  and  formed  a  fociety,  all  things  con- 
fidcred,  which  has  feldom,  if  ever,  been  equalled,  in 
any  age  or  country ;  where  morals  were  iublimed  by 
religion  ;  where  manners  were  p':li(hed  by  a  fenfe  of 
t  ;ind  foftei:ed  by  a  defire  to  pleafe  ;  where 

i  ^  was  warmed  by  love,  and  flrengthened  by 

t  >:' blood.    Their  convcrfation  animated  by 

i  .nched  by  learninpr,  and  moderated  by  rcl- 

XII 


134  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

peft,  exulting  ia  the  dignity  of  its  objeft,  feemed  to 
approach  to  that  fine  tranlport  which  immcrt:!  be- 
ings may  be  fuppofed  to  feel,  in  pouring  cut  their 
contemplations  of  the  wifdbm  and  goodnefs  of  thi^ 
Creator.  When  l;ghter  matters  were  the  fubjeft  of 
difcourfe,  wit  had  a  ipring,  humor,  a  flow,  and  fenti- 
raent  a  poig;nancy,  of  which  thofe  who  .are  often 
talking  of  trifles,  v/ho  hover  continually  en  the  fur- 
face  of  the  earth,  and  rove  like  butterflies  from  fenle 
to  fenfe,  both  in  their  lives  and  ccnverfc^iiciis,  can 
have  no  concep:ion. 

The  re'gn  of  Elizabeih  is  jufdy  ccnjudered  as 
one  of  the  mc.ft  fliining  periods  in  the  Englifn  hiftory. 
For  purity -of  manners^  vigor  of  mi  d,  vigor  of  cha- 
rafter,  and  peribnaladdrefs,it  is5perh^ps  uaequalled. 

The  magoificant  entertainments  which  that  illuf- 
trious  princels  fo  frequently  gave  her  court,  and  at 
which  ihe  generally  appeared  in  perfon,  with  a  moft 
engaging  tamiliarity 5  rubbed  ofl'the  acdeiU  referve 
of  the  nobility,  and  increafed  the  talte  cf  {cdety,?.nd 
even  of  gallantry.  The  mafculine  bcldneis  cf  her  " 
charafter,  however ,was  unfavorable  to  female  graces. 
The  v/omen  of  her  court,  like  herfelf,  were  rather 
objefts  of  refpeft  than  love.  Thair  virtues  were  fe- 
vere  ;  their  learning  .jsluo.  their  talents  were  often 
great  ;  they  had  paffions,  but  they  knew  how  to  iup- 
prefs  them,orto  divertthem  into  the  channel  of  intej- 
efl  or  ambition.  They  did  not  however  want  their 
admirers.     Men  were  lefs  dehcate  in  thofe  days. 

Spenfer,  by  writing  his  ''Fairy  Queen,"  revived 
in  Britain  the  ipirit  of  chivalry  at  a  time  when  it  be- 
^  gan  to  expire  on  the  continent  ;  and  Sir  Philip  S3rd- 
ney,in  his  "Arcadia,"  refined  on  that  fentiment.  The 
Fairy  Queen  was  i::tended  as  a  compliment  to  Eliza- 
beth ;  and  the  Arcadi^a  W3S  dedicated  by  Sir  Philip 
to  his  fi'^er,  the  couotefs  of  Pembroke,the  moll  ami- 
able and  accomplifhcd  woman  of  her  time. 

The  following  ingenious  and  well-known  verfes 
vrere  miended  as  part  of  her  epitaph  : 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  135 

**^  ITnderiieath  this  fable  hcarfe 
Lies  the  fabiect  of  all  ver(e, 
Svdnev's  filter,  Pembroke's  mother— 
Deiitb"!  ere  thou  haft  kill'd  another, 
K:^.ir,  and  learn'd,  and  good  asfhe, 
Tin:e{haU  throw  a  dart  at  thee." 

Elizabeth  heHelr  \v:is  a  great  and  fmgular  cha- 
rr-cler.  Bet  fhe  had  few  qualities  to  recommend  her 
as  a  woman,  though  paffionatclyfoDdcfperfon.il  ad- 
miration. Nor  were  her  talents,  as  a  writer,  either 
ftriking  or  elegant,  though  fhe  appeal's  to  have  beea 
ambitions  of  literary  fame.  Her  ability  as  a  fove- 
wign  has  be?n  already  confidered.  Her  virtues  were 
thofe  of  her  rank^  andof  her  age  ;  and  her  weaknef- 
fes  thofe  of  her  fcx.  They  failed,  however,  to  ren- 
der her  amiable.  - 

The  acceffion  of  James  VF.  to  the  throne  of  En- 
gland, CDntributed  uill  farther  to  obfiruft  the  prog- 
refs  of  civil:zatior>  in  Scotland,  and  to  the  decline  of 
the  arts  in  that  country.  The  removal  of  the  court 
dr'^w  the  nobility  to  London,  to  fpend  their  fortunes, 

^ain  preferment.    Men  of  genius  and  learning 
fe  looked  this  way. 

That  event;  however,  muft  have  contributed  to 
: lie  advancement  of  fociety  in  England  ;  yet  not  fo' 
much  as  might  beexpefted.  The:  fcantlnefs  of  James's 
revenue,  together  with  his  want  of  economy,  render- 
ed h?m  unable  to  fiipport  the  fplendor  of  a  court.  It 
was  befides  inconfillent  with  his  maxims  of  policy, 
and  with  hi^  temper.  He  love-d  to  be  fecial  with  his 
friendc),  but 'hated  a  croui  ;  and  had  rather  an  aver- 
fion  to  the  company  of  women.  A  mean  jealoufy, 
v'  k  place  cf  a  generous  emulation,  between 

u  1  and  Englifh  courtiers,  prevented  Uill  far- 

tUr,  tite  :  t  of  manners ;  wh'xhcan  only  b^ 

etfcfted  b;  .1  intercourfe. 

The  nobikity  and  gentry  of  England  are  flill 
loader  of  a- country  life  than  thofe  of  any  poliihed 


136  SKETCHES  cf  the  SEX. 

nation  in  Europe.  It  prevailed  much  more  thetj, 
and  was  highly  encouraged  by  James.  He  evei: 
iffued  prochimations,  containing  fevere  threatnings^ 
againft  the  gentry  who  lived  in  town.  By  thde 
means,  the  ancient  pride  of  family  was  prefervcd. 
Men  of  birth  were  diftinguilhed  by  a  ftatelinefe  of 
carriage.  Much  ceremony  took  place  in  the  ordina- 
ry commerce  of  life  ;  and,  as  riches  acquired  by 
trade  were  itill  rare,  little  familiarity  was  indulged 
by  the  great. 

The  moft  diflingulfted  women  of  this  period  in 
Britainj  were  the  Duchefs  of  NewcafUe,  Lady  Pak- 
5ngton,  and  Lady  Halket. 

The  Ducheis  cf  Newcafde  has  left  us  a  van:ety 
of  compofiiions,  both  in  profe  and  verfe,  of  no  meaii 
charafter. 

Lady  Pakington  lias  long  been  reputed  the  au- 
thor oiThe  'd>koledutj  of  Many  ?ind  feveral  other  moral 
and  divine  treatifes  ;  which  are  written  v/ith  Co  much 
temper,  purity,  piety,  philofophy,  and  good  fenfe, 
that  (he  may  be  juftiy  reckoned  the  glory  of  her  fex,^ 
and  an  honor  to  human  nature-  V/hat  grecuiefs  of 
mind  and  goodnefs  of  heart  muft  the  peribn  be  pof- 
feflbd  of,  who  could  deny  herlelf  the  honor  cf  fuch 
works,  left  the  name  of  a  woman  ibould  render  them 
of  lefs  fervice  to  mankind  ! 

The  reiteration  of  monarchy  made  ample 
amends  to  beauty  for  the  indignities  of  the  com- 
monwealth. The  reign  of  Charles  IL  may  be  con- 
fidered,  in  one  light  as  the  moll  glorious  a?ra'to  wo- 
men  in  the  hiftory  of  Britain,  and  as  the  moft  deba- 
ling  in  another,  'fhey  were  never  fo  much  careffed  ; 
never  fo  little  refpected. 

Charles  himfelf  had  a  fufceptible,  but  changea- 
ble heart  ;  a  fecial  temper,  a  genteel  manner,  and  a 
lively  wit.  His  courtiers  partook  much  of  the  ch?^ 
rafter  of  their  mafter.  They  had  all  futlered  tlie 
preiTure  of  adverfity,or  felt  the  infolerce  of  t3T?nny. 
'1  hey  began  to  think  that  Chriftianity  was  a  fable  ^ 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEI^.  r^'* 

thit  virtue  was  a  cheat  ;  that  friendfhip  and  gener- 
ofity  were  but  words  of  ccurfe  ;  and,  in  greedily  en-^ 
joying  their  change  of  fortune,  they  funk  themfelves 
beneatli  the  dignity  of  men.  In  avoiding  fpiritual 
pride,  and  in  ret  dialing  felfifhnefs,  they  departed 
from  the  cffential  pr:ncipks  of  religion  and  morals  ; 
and  by  conira(l.irg  the  language  and  the  manners  of 
hypocrify,  they  fhamelei'sly  viomted  the  laws  of  de- 
cency and  decorum. 

O'/erjoyed  at  the  return  of  their  fovereign,  the 
whole  royal  parly  diflblved  in  thoughtlefs  jollity  ; 
and  even  m?.Dy  of  the  republicans,  particularly  the 
younger  clafs,  and  the  women,  were  glad  to  be  re- 
lieved frv>m  the  aufterity  of  the  commonv;ealth.  A 
general  relax.uion  of  minner^  took  place.  Pleafure 
becamr  the  univ^rrfal  object,  and  love  the  prevailing 
tafie;  but  th:it  love  wr.s  rather  an  appetite  than  a. 
paffion.  Beauty,  unconnected  with  virtue,  was  it^ 
c'jje<Et :  it  was  therefore  voiil  of  honor  and  attach- 
ment. In  conf'iquence  of  fuch  manner.^,  female  vir- 
tue, robi:ed  of  i:s  rew::rd,  became  rather  a  mode  of 
bjhavior  to  inflame  defirc,  or  prccm e  elevation,  than 
a  r  '  ^  cr  principle  ;  and,  of  courP",  fooner  cr 
la:,  I'her  facr.ficed  to  inglination  cr  to  caprice. 

iiut  thefe  oblervations  in  their  full  extent,  uiuft 
cnly  be  underflo-xl  of  the  court.  1  he  greater  part 
of  ihe  gentry  it  11  rdiJedon  their  eftates  in  the  coun- 
tr\',  equally  llranger s  to  the  plenfures  of  the  court 
and  tcwn  ;  and  one  half  of  the  ifland  v/as  nlied  with 
ind'ginrion  at  the  vices  ofWhitehilL  'Jhe  ftage, 
v/i.ich  generally  takes  its  complexion  from  the  ccurc, 
w?^  a  continued  iceue  of  flnlualky,  tlafphemy,  and 
a-^furJity. 

I'he  fr  cnrfe,  however,  ofall  ranks  of 

men,  from  lo  the  commoner,  improved  the 

talent  of  luciety,  and  polilhed  the  language  of  con- 
vcrlaHor.  Gal!:!ntrv,  licentious  as  it  was,  produced 
ar  ^s;  and  from  the  irregular,  an  1 

^v.  ,       .    :     ,  !c)in  ri    wnting   r.nd   thinkings 


138  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

fpriin«;  many  ilrokes  of  real  genius,  and  a  liberal  fpi- 
rit  of  inquiry,  whofe  rei'earclies  and  experiments 
have  benefited  mankind,  and  carried  philoibph^^  and 
the  iciences  to  an  height  that  does  honor  tomoderii 
times. 

The  women  of  this  reign,  as  may  be  expefted 
from  thetalte  of  the  men,v/ereraorefollci!ous  about 
ridorning  their  perlbns,  than  their  mind?.  But  the 
frequent  interccurfe  between  the  fexes  in  feme  mea-- 
iure  compenfated  that  negleft.  By  fuch  a  commerce 
they  became  m.cre  eafy,  mere  free,- mere  lively,  and- 
mcre  capable  of  converfation  than-thev/cmien  of  any 
preceding  age.  They  had  lefs  learning,  but  mere 
accomphfhments  ;  and  perhaps  more  genius.  Ihcy 
wanted  nothing  but  virtue  to  have  made  their  mem- 
ories immortal  ;  and,  notwithitanding  the  general 
depravity ,there  were  ibme  who  trodihe  narrow  path,, 
whofe  tafte  and  fentiments  were  uncorrupted,  and 
whofe  names  ftill  live  in  their  writings,  and  in  the 
verfes  of  their  cotemporaries. 

I'he  reign  of  James  11.  was  too  flicrt  to  have  any 
diilinft  charafter.     It  is  only  fmgular  for  the  blind 
^;igotry,  and  blinder  difpofition  of  the  prince  which 
ouiedthe  minds  of  men  from  the  drlirium  of  plea- 
ire  in  v.^hich  they  had  been  lofl,  and  l?rought  about 
•le  revohi'ion. 

Under  William  HI.  the  efFefts  of  that -change 
werevilible  on  (he  manners.  1  he  nation  rouirned 
to  what  m.ay  be  called  irs  naiural  ftate.  An  atten- 
tion to  ju!i  pclitics,  to  fouad  phiiofophy  and  true  r'^- 
Itgion,  charafterize  the  acra  of  Britilh  liberty. 

William,  himfelf  was  of  a  gloomy  temper,  and 
had  a  difiike  to  the  company  of  wom^en.  The  inter- 
courfeof  the  fexes,  and  thofe  amufements  v/hich  are 
its  confequences,  were  therefore  little  countenanced 
during  his  reign.  By  thefe  means  the  ladies  had 
more  time  for  the  purliiits  of  learning  and  knowledge; 
and  they  made  ufe  of  it  accordin^l3^  Many  of  them 
became  adepts  in  the  fciencee.    Lady  Ivfefliant,  and 


SKETCUKS  Of  TUB  SEX.  i^^ 

Mary  Adell,  particiil'/.rly,  dirciilTed  with  ju.lgment 
and  ability  the  moll  ubllraft  points  ia  inefaphyfics 
and  divinity. 

Thcle'two  hdies  diuered  en  a  very  delicate 
point.  Mary  affirnied  f  .at  wa  ouglu  to  love  with 
defuc  God  only  every  oiher  lova  being  linful.  1/ady 
Maiham  oppoi'ed  tnai  doctrine  as  a  d;^ng  -irons  refce- 
ment.  Each  nad  her  abettors.  Mils  AiLil  was  (bp- 
ported  by  Mr.  Notiis,  and  Lady  Maihani  by  Mr- 
Locke.  Lhey  wrre  both  ^re.it  advocates  for  iha 
learning  ot  won\en  ;  and  then*  arg^uments  and  exam- 
ple appear  to  ha\'tj  roii'ed  many  cf  t':e  lex  to  a  more 
i'ehous  attention  to  rti'gion  aiid  moraliiy. 

The  rei:in  of  que:n  Ana  -  may  be  f.iid  to  have 
jen  the  i'ammer,  of  which  William's  was  only  the 
ipring.  Every  thing  was  r.pened  ;  ?:otliir.|;  was  cor- 
rupted, it  was  a  (Irjrt,  but  glorious  period  of  hero- 
ifm  and  national  capacity,  of  taieand  f  ience,  learn- 
iogaad  genius,  of  gall  mtry  without  licen-ioufnefs, 
id p.litenefs without  cii'eminac}".- 

One  i<i  in  doubt  which  moll  to  admire  in  the 
women  of  this  reign,  the  manntrs',  the  taieotvS,  or  the 

nphfhmeiits.    Theyv/ere  religious  without  fe- 

,  and  wiii-iout  entliullafnT'.     Ttiey  w:ra  learned 

•'    ^    ■  iV.ry.     They  were  intclli:^ent   and  at- 

iit' nefl^.cti.:g  the  du'ies  of  their  fex. 

and  entertaining,  without  levity. 

'  led  the  graces  of  fociety  to  the 

d  the  virtues  of  domellic  life. 

.  companions,  without  ceafiag 

^  be  wive:*  and  mothers. 

In  fupport  of  the  for.,->...^  .  ..,. of  the 

'.itifh  ladies  under  the  reign  of  queen  Anne,  we 

•  '  ^•^'"  add  lue  names  of  L^dy  Chudleigh,  Lady 

a,  the  honorable  Mrs.Monk,  Mrs.  Bovey, 

(if  tnefe  ladies,  Mrs.  Bovey  is  perhaps  the  leaS 

ritings,  and  had  no  poet- 

'.    She  isj  however,  v^ry 


?4o  SKETCHES  o^  THE  SEX. 

handfomely  complimented  by  Sir  Richard  Steele,  in 
the  dedication  of  the  lecond  vcluine  of  the  "  Ladies 
Library  ;"  and  Mrs.  Mardey  gives  the  fallowing  ele- 
gant charadef  of  her  in  "The  new  Atahntis:*'  ''Her 
per(bi'»i  has  as  many  charms  as  can  be  defired.  Her 
air,  her  manner,  her  judgment,  her  wit,  ker  conver- 
faiion,  are  admirable.  Her  fenfe  is  fciid  ai:id  perfp'c- 
lious.  Sheis  fo  perfecl  an  economifc,  that  in  taking 
in  all  the  greater  duties  of  life  ibedoes  not  difdain  to 
Itocp  to  the  moft  inferior.  In  (horr,  me  knows  all 
that  a  man  cun  know,  without  defpifmg  what,  as  a 
v/oman,  (ha  ciight  not  to  be  ignorant  of." 

Under  George  L  the  manners  of  the  nation 
were  fenfihly  changed  ;  but  net  fo  much  as  the  na- 
tional fpiiir.  The  South  Sea  Ichemej  and  ether  mer- 
cenary projecfs,  produced  a  pafiion  of  avarice,  and  a 
trite  of  luxury,  which  prepared  the  way  for  ail  the 
ccrrupticns  of  the  fcllov/ii:g  reign. 

The  delirium  of  riches  was  beyond  what  the 
moft  extravagant  imagination  can  conceive.  Any 
(cheme,  however  abfurd,  met  with  encouragement, 
if  it  only  prcpofed  liifficient  advantages.  All  ranks 
and  conditions,  and  even  woineTz  reforted  to  'Change 
Alley,  with  the  locks  of  harpies  ready  to  fe'ze  upon 
their  prey  ;  but  in  realitv  the  viftiins  of  their  own 
credulity  and  fcrdid  pafllcn?.  The  peers  cf  the 
realm  became  ftock-jobbers5and  its  miiii-fters  brokers. 
Public  virtue  was  loll;  in  the  vifions  cf  private  beneiir. 
Letters  fell  into  contem.pt,  though  fuppcrted  by  the 
greatelt  cxamplis  cf  luccefsful  genius.  Love  grew 
covetous,  and  beauty  ven^d. 

Tnere  were,  however,  in  this  reign,  many  wom- 
en cf  lii:eral  and  elegant  talents  ;  amorg  the  firft  of 
whom  may  be  ranked  Lady  Mary  W.  Montague,, 
lb  well  known  for  her  fpirited  poems,  and  ingenious 
letters. 

As  the  manners  of  the  two  fexes  generally  keep 
pace  with  each  other,  in  propcrlicn  as  the  men  grew 
re^ardlefs  cf  char^fter,  the  women  nfgleftf^d  the  du^ 


SKETCHES  OF  rnn  SEX,  u^i 

lies  of  their  fex.  Though  little  ir.clined  to  ho?,Ydmg^ 
ihey  are  not  perhaps  leis  dif'prXed  to  iivarice  than 
Dieu.  Gold  to  them  it;  deliniDle,  as  the  miBifler  of 
vanitj',  vcluptuouihels  and  fhow.  It  became  their 
fupreme  cbjeft,  mid  the  ciily  fburce  of  the  matrimo- 
nial union,  to  the  exclulion  of  that  tender  fentimenr, 
which  alone  can  give  fireng'h  to  the  facrtd  tie,  cr 
pleafure  to  the  nuptial  ftate.  The  ycung,  the  beait* 
tiful,  fhe  heal-ihful,  were  wedded,  though  not  always 
-ith  their  own  confent,  to  age,  defcrmity,  and  dif» 
-' fe.  Virtue  wa<  joined  to  profligacy,  and  wanton- 
rieCs  to  leverty. 

Such  marriages  were  necefiarily  deftruftlve  of 
domeftic  felicity.  Tiie  want  of  cordiality  at  home, 
naturallv  leads  us  abroad  ;  as  the  waot  of  happinefs 
i  ourlelves  leads  us  to  feek  it  in  ext^ni2i]s,  imd  to 
.-irure  imaginaiicn  for  the  gratification  of  appetites, 
which,  undepraved,  are  fimple  acd  uniform.  New 
jraulenients  and  Ibcieties  of  pleafure  were  everyday 
formed  ;  new  modes  of  difiipaticn  v/ere  invented  ; 
ihe  crder  of  nature  was  changed  ;  night  and  day  were 
inverted  ;  fancv  and  hngira^e  v\  ere  exhaufted  for 
:i.imes  to  the  ailVmoHes  cf  politenefs  and  «;p.llantry, 

Nolhin:^  is  fo  opprtilive  as  time  to  the  unhappy, 
or  thought  to  the  vacant  mind,  'iltfe  were  not  all 
enough.  They  feemed  afraid  of  themfelvts,  and  of 
each  other.  I'he  huiband  had  one  let  of  vifitors  ; 
the  wife  another.  He  proferuted  his  pleafures 
abroad  :  (heentertainailher  fritndsat  home  ;  cr  re- 
ported to  Ibme  public  amufemenr,  or  priviue  pleafure. 

A  fpirit  cf  gaming  which  mingled  iifelf  with  dif- 
itpation  and  pleafure,  aUbrded  a  pretence  for  ncftur*- 
nal  ineetin^s.  And  gan^.ing,  it  mud  be  acknow- 
Icv'     '.   "''      crs  the  tvn  "les  the  pailiocs,  cor-' 

ri  .    ,  and  br'  .n  the  ilrcngeft  bar- 

'^r  ct  virtue — a  dc  i  vc^  between  ihe  lexcs. 

At  preient,  wc  ^  that  notwithfipnding  the 

relaxation  of  manners,  the  averfion  to  whatever  is 
fenous,  the  tliirll:  of  adm'.vaion,  ;:nd  the  ncghft  of 


142  SKETCHES  0F  THE  SEX, 

thofe- qualities  which  produce  efteem,  lb  confpicuour 
in  ibme  ;  yet  the  generality  of  cur  fair  Cv-^untrywom- 
en  pofleis  the  doineftic  virtues  in  a  confiderable  de* 
^ee  of  perfeclion.  Infidelity  is  not  fo  common  as 
fome  libertines  would  endeavor  to  perfuadeus  ;  and 
elopements  are  ftronger  proofs  of  fenfibility  than  the 
want  of  Ihime. 

In  this  illand,  and  even  in  the-  metropolis,  there 
are  many  women  who  would  have  done  honor  to  any 
age  or  country;  who  join  a  refined  talie  and  a  cultiva- 
ted underftandiag  to  a  feeling. hearf,  and  who  adorn 
their  talents  aiid  their  fenfibiiity  with  fentiments  of 
virtue^  honor,  and  humanity.  We  have  women  who 
could  have  reafoned  with  Locke,  who  might  have 
difputed  the  laurel  with  Pope,  and  to  whom  Addifon 
would  have  liltened  with  pieafure. 

Even  in  tl  e  middle  .of  opulence,  and  of  that  lux- 
ury which  too  often  mingles  avarice  with  ftatejwhich 
narrows  the  heart,  and  makes  it  at  the  fame  time 
vain  and  cruel,  w^  fee  women  who  yearly  let  apart 
a  portion  of  ihtir  lubibance  for  the  poor  ;  who  make 
it  their  bufmels  to  find  out  the  abodes  of  niifery.  and 
who  number  among  their  pbafures  the  rehef  of  the 
orphan,  and  the  tears  fhed  in  th€  coniblation  of  the 
widow* 


":^;^= 


GHAP.    XLIIL 

On  the  Privileges  of  Britijh  Women* 

X  HOUGH  the  French  and  Italians  are  fuperior 
to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain  in  politenefs  and 
in  elegance,  yet  the  condition  of  thevr  women,  upon' 
the  whole,  is  not  preferable.  Such  privileges  and 
immunities  as  thev  derive  from  the  influence  of  po- 
Utenefs,  the  Britifh  derive  from  thelaw-s  of  their 
country . 


SKETCHES  or  the  SEXv  143-. 

In  France,  the  SrJique  law  does  not  allow  a  fe- 
male to  inherit  the  crown.  But  in  England,  a  wo- 
in  niav  be  the  firll:  perfbnage  in  the  kingdom,  may 
..ceed  to  the  crown  in  her  own  right,  and  in  that, 
caie^  not  bound  by  any  of  the  laws  which  reftraip 
womao,  (lie  may  enjoy  the  fame  powers  and  privi- 
l  g-  s  as  a  king.  Such  a  queen,  if  ihe  marry,  retains 
alio  the  fame  power,  iffues  the  orders,  and  tranfafts 
the  bufinefs  of  the  i  ate  in  her  own  came,  a::d  con- 
tinues ftill  ,th  '^  fo-v,  veign,  while  her  hufband  is  only  a 
Oibjeft. 

When  a  -vii.^  iucceeus  in  his  own  right  to  the 
crown,  and  marries,  his  queen  is  then  only  afubjeft, 
and  her  rights  and  privileges  are  not  near  fo  exren- 
five.  She  is  exempted,  however,  from  the  general 
laws,  which  exclude  married  woirien  from  having 
any  property  in  their  own  right.  vShe  may  fue  any 
perfon  at  law,  without  joining  her  hufband  in  the 
lait ;  file  may  purchaf- lands ;  (he  may  ieli  nnd  con- 
convey  them  to  another  perlon,  without  ihe  inter- 
ference of  her  huibsnd  ;  ihe  may  have  a  feparate 
property  in.  goods  and  in  lands,  and  may  difpofe  of 
tl:efe  by  will,  as  if  (he  were  a  lingle  woman.  On 
the  commiflion  of  any  crime  however,  ihe  may  be 
'^'ed  and  puniihed  by  the  peers  of  the  reahn. 

/fo  violate  the  ch?'city  cf  the  queen,  of  the  ccn- 
lort  of  the  Prince  cf  Wales,  or  of  ihe  eldeil  daughter 
of  the  king,  although  with  their  own  a-nfent,  is 
high  treafon  and  puniiliable  scccrdinely.  The 
vounger  dmi^kers^  as  well  as  fons  of  the  king,  are 
hardly  otherwife  diitinguilhed  by  the  laws,  than  by 
having  the  precedency  of  all  other  iiibjefts  in  public 
jr^moiiies. 

A  peerefs  v.hcn  guilty  of  any  crime,  cannot  be 
tried  but  by  the  houle  of  peers. 

A  woman  who  is  noble  in  her  own  right,  can- 
t  lole  her  nobi]ity  by  marrying  i?^e  meareit  ple- 
.    Slie  communicates  her  ncbihty  to  her  chil- 
Lut  ajt  toher  hulbani  •»,;<*. 


144  SKETCHES  OF.  the  SEX. 

Sl:e  who  is  only  ennobled  by  nrarrying  a  peer, 
lofes  that  nobility,  if  ihe  atterwards  marry  a  com- 
moner. 

She  who  firft  marries  a  Juke  or  other  peer  of 
a  fiiperior  order,  e.nd  afterwards  a  fimple  baron ,  is 
Hill  aliv  wed  to  retain  her  firfl  titl^,  and  the  privileges 
annexed  to  it  j  for  tiie  law  conliders  all  peers  as 
equals. 

By  theccurtafy  of  this  country,  the  wives  of 
baronets  are  called  ladies,  a  title  fuperior  to  that  of 
their  hnPoands^  but  at  the  fame  time  a  title  to  which 
they  have  no  leg;d  right,  being  in  all  judicial  v/rits 
and  proceedings  only  denomiiia red  Damefuch-a-one, 
according  ro  the  rrames  of  their  hufl^ands. 

The  law  of  England  or  Jains,  that  if  a  man  courts 
a  wcnran,  promiiks  to  marry  her,  and  afterwards 
marries  another^  it}c  may,  by  bringing  an  action 
againit  him,  recover  fuch  damages  as  a  jury  fhail 
think  adequate  to  the  Icfs  (he  has  ■liftainfa.  In 
Scotlaix;^  fbe  may  receive  one  half  of  the  fortune  he 
receives  7yith  his  v/ife,  -  On  the  other  hand,  as  it 
fometime?  happens  that  rrtful  v.  omen  draw  on  the 
mere  fond  and  filiy  part  cf  our  fex  to  make  them  val- 
uable prefents  under  pretence  of  marriage,  and  after- 
wards laugh  at  or  refute  to  marry  them' — a  man, 
who  has  been  fo  bubbled,  may  fue  the  woman  to  re- 
turn the  prefents  he  made  her^  becaufe  they  were  pre- 
furaed  to  have  been  conditionally  given,  aod  (he  has 
failed  in  performing  her  part  of  the  ccnditicn. 

Wives  cannot  be  imiprilbned  for  debt,  nor  de- 
prived of  their  perfonal  liberty  for  any  thing  but 
crimes  ;  and  even  (bch  of  thefe  a.s  fubjeft  the  offen- 
der only  to  a  picuniary  punilhraent  m.uft  be  expiated 
by  the  hulband. 

No  married  woman  is  liable  to  pay  any  debt, 
even  though  contrafted  without  the  knowledge,  or 
againft  the  confcnt  of  her  hufband.  And  what  is 
Itill  more  extraordinary,  whatever  debts  fhe  may 
have  contracled  while  yngle,  devolve,  the  moment  of 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  145 

her  man-iage,  upon  the  haplefs  fpoufe,  who,  like  the 
fcape-goat,  is  loaded  by  the  prietl  who  performs  the 
ceremony  with  all  the  fins  and  extravagances  of  his 
wife. 

It  is  a  common  opinion  among  the  vulgar,  that  a 
general  warning  in  the  Gazette,  or  in  a  news  paper, 
will  exempt  a  man  from  the  payment  of  fuch  debts  as 
are  contracted  by  his  wife  without  his  knowledge. 
But  this  opinion  is  without  any  good  foundatiou. 
Particular  warnings,  however,  given  in  writing,  have 
been  held  as  good  exemptions.  But  fuch  are  of  little 
advantage  to  a  hufband,  as  his  wife  may  always  find 
people  to  give  her  credit,  whom  the  huiband  has  not 
cautioned  againft  it. 

When  a  huiband  forces  his  wife  to  leave  him 
by  cruel  ufage,  (he  may  claim  a  feparate  mainten- 
ance ;  while  (he  enjoys  this,  he  is  not  liable  to  pay  any 
of  her  debts. 

If  a  huiband,  confcious  of  having  ufed  his  wife 
ill,  will  not  allow  her  to  go  out  of  his  houle,  or  carries 
her  away,  or  keeps  her  concealed,  in  order  to  prevent 
her  endeavoring  to  find  redrefs  of  the  evils  that  (lie 
fuffers,  her  friends  may,  in  that  cafe,  by  applying  to 
the  court  of  King's  Bench,  obtain  an  order  for  the 
huiband  to  produce  his  wife  before  the  laid  court : 
and  if  fhe  there  fwears  the  peace  againft  him,  (he  de- 
livers herfelt  from  his  jurifdiclion,  and  he  cannot 
compel  her  to  live  with  him,  but  the  court  will  grant 
her  an  order  to  live  where  Ihe  pleafes. 

Among  the  Romans,  among  feveral  other  an- 
cient nations,  and  among  Ibrae  people  in  the  prefent 
times,  it  is  not  deemed  culpable  for  a  huiband  to 
kill  the  man  whom  he  furpriftis  committing  adultery 
with  his  wife.  By  the  lav/s  of  England,  he  who  kills 
fuch  a  roan  is  reckoned  guilty  of  manllaughter ;  but, 
inconfequence  of  the  great  provocation  given,  the 
court  commonly  orders  the  fentence  of  burning  on 
the  hand  to  be  inflifted  in  the  flightelt  manner. 

A  huiband  is  not  allowed  to  leave  his  wife, 
XUl 


14^  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

Ihe  may  enter  a  fuit  againft  him  for  the  reflitntion  c( 

the  eights  of  marriage;  and  the  fpiriiual  court  will 

compel  him  to  return,  to  live  with  her,  and  to  reft  ore 

them. 

A  hufband  cannot  devifeby  his  will  fuch  of  his 
wife's  ornaments  and  jewels  as  (he  is  accuftomed  to 
w^ear ;  though  it  has  been  held  that  he  may,  if  he 
pleafes,  difpofe  of  them  in  his  life  time. 

A  hufband  is  liable  to  anfwerall  fuch  actions  at 
law  as  were  attached  againft  his  wife  at  the  time  of 
their  marriage,  and  alfo  to  pay  all  the  debts  Ihe  had 
contrafted  previous  to  that  period.  But  if  his  w:ie 
fhail  happen  to  die  before  he  has  made  payment  of 
fuch  debts,  the  compaft  which  mvide  them  one  fle(b, 
and  blended  their  interefts  into  one,  beii2g  diff;lved, 
tl:e  hufband  is  thereby  abfolved  from  payirg  her  an- 
tenuptial debts. 

Though  a  woman  marries  the  m.caritft  plebeian, 
{he  does  not  lofe  the  rank  which  fne  deriv:td  froir  her 
birth.  But  though  ftie  be  defcended  of  the  iowtft  cf 
the  human  race  herfelf,  fhe  may  by  ni^rriige  be 
raifed,  in  this  country,  to  any  rank  benenth  the  fov- 
creignty^ 

No  woman  can  by  marriage  confer  a  fettlement 
in  any  parifh  on  her  bufbard.  But  every  man  who 
has  a  legal  fettlement  himfelf,  confers  the  fame  fttile- 
ment  by  marriage  on  his  wife. 

It  is  no  uncommon  thing,  in  the  prefent  times, 
for  the  matrimonial  bargain  to  be  made  fo  as  thct 
the  wife  fhall  retain  the  foie  and  ablclute  power  of 
enjoying  and  difpofmg  of  her  own  icrtuiie,  iirilie 
fame  manner  as  if  £h  were  not  married.  But  wh;it 
is  more  inequitable,  rl  e  hufband  is  liable  to  pay  ail 
the  debts  which  his  wife  may  think  proper  to  burden 
him  with,  even  though  fhe  have  abundance  of  her 
own  to  anfwer  that  purpofe.  He  is  alfo  obliged  to 
maintain  lier,  though  her  circumftacces  be  more  opu- 
lent than  his  ;  and  if  he  die  before  her,  Ihe  has  a 
without  fhewing  fui5icicnt  caufe.    For  if  he  does  fo. 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.     ,        147^. 

ri.^ht  to  one  third  of  his  real  eftate.  If  however,  fhe 
die  before  him,  he  is  not  entitled  to  the  value  ot  one 
fing^  hilfp^nny,  unlefs  Ihe  has  devifed  it  to  hnn  by 
her  will. 

One  of  the  moft  peculiar  dididvantages  in  the 
condition  of  Britifh  women  is,  their  being  poftponed 
to  all  miles  in  the  fuccellion  to  the  inheritance  ot 
lawded  eftiites,  and  generally  allowed  much  Imaller 
fharcs  than  the  men,  even  of  the  money  and  effefts  of 
t^reir  fathers  and  nnceilors,  when  this  money  or  thofe 
(*fte6ls  are  givc-n  them  in  the  lifetime  of  their  parents, 
c^r  deviled  to  them  by  will.  If  the  father,  indeed, 
flies  inteftate,  they  fhare  equally  with  ions  in  ail  per- 
ibnal  property. 

When  an  eftate,  in  default  of  male  heirs,  def- 
cends  to  the  daughters,  the  common  cuftom  of  Eng- 
Tand  is  that  the  eldrit  iliall  not,  in  the  fame  manner- 
's an  eldeft  f ^n,  inherit  the  whole,  but  all  the  daugh- 
^rs  fhall  have  an  equal  iliare  in  it.  Weftmoreiand, 
however,  and  fome  other  places,  are  exceptions  to 
this  [general  rule.  The  elded  daughter,  there  fuc- 
oee.ls  to  the  whole  of  the  land,  in  preference  to  all  the 

.  i  en  are  not  allowed  to  be  members  of  our 
fenate,  nor  t3  concern  themielves  much  with  our 
trades  and  profeffions.  Both  in  their  virgin  and 
nlarriei  itate,  a  perpetual  guardianfhip  is,  in  fome 
iIt^''""  V  -^^  "^'•'-'rid  over  them  :  and  fhe  who,  having 
h\  in  the  gnive,  enJDys  an  independent 

foriiinc,  II  uimolt  the  only  woman  among  us,  who 
^n  be  caMed  entirely  free.  They  derive  the  greater 
f>'irt  of  th.e  power  which  they  enjoy,  from  their 
rh^rms;  and  thefe,  wlien  joined  to  fenlibility,  often 
full)'  compenfate,  in  this  refpecft,  for  the  littfe  diCaO. 
MAAiviti:^.  th.?v  are  laid  under  by  luv  anr^  nirorQ^ 


T48  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX* 

CHAP.    XLIV. 

On  Female  Kno-wIedgCu 


JCIENCE  is  to  the  mind  what  light  is  to  the  bo- 
dy ;  and  a  blind,  is  juft  fo  much  lefs  fhocking  than 
au  ignorant  woman,  as  her  mental  are  fnperior  to 
her  corporeal  powers. 

This  fpecies  of  accomplifhment  has  been  ridicu- 
led, as  raifmg  thfefex  above  that  fphere  where  nature 
feems  to  have  fixed  their  movements.  Such  is  the 
paradox  which  has  occafioned  fo  much  illiberality  and 
lai  cafm.  and  on  wh  ich  every  v/oman  of  more  knowledge 
thvin  ordiuary  has  been  fo  often  reprefented  as  a  pedant. 
Learning,  it  is  alfo  faid,  would  improve  women's 
talents  of  addrefis,  and  only  make  them  worfe  by 
rendering  them  more  artful.  This  is  likewife  an 
idea  which  no  man  who  enjoys  the  converfation  and 
friendihip  of  raodeft  and  good  women,  ever  indul- 
ed.  Whoever  has  the  leaft  regard  for  decency  and 
rath,  and  is  not  deftitute  of  all  relifh  for  the  happi- 
ixfs  which  fprings  from  the  chafte  fenfibiiities  of  an 
unpolluted  heart,  mufl:  own  he  has  fufFered  much 
more  from  the  felfifhnefs  and  cunning  of  men  than 
from  any  bad  qualities  in  women.  Indeed,  the  pref- 
ent  fituation  of  both,  in  this  country,  renders  it  im- 
poiTible  to  be  otherwife.  The  mafculine  charafter  is 
peculiarly  obnoxious  tothepetrifyinginfluence  of  vul- 
gar opinion.  Our  young  men  are  foon  intoxicated  wifh 
ihe  fallacious  maxims  either  of  the  gay  or  the  bufy 
world  ;  and  both  extremes  are  equally  pernicious  to 
focial  excellence.  Ideas  of  the  meanett  and  moft  for- 
did tendency  abforb  their  minds  at  a  very  early  pe- 
riod, which  often  render  them  ever  after  callous  to 
the  workings  of  humanity.  With  a  ftrong  predilec- 
tion for  wealth,  independence  or  libertinifra,  they 
cheerfully  prollitute  all  the  powers  of  their  minds  and 
all  the  feelings  of  their  heai'ts,  in  acquiring  one  or  all 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.  i^ 

cf  thefe  objects.  This  unavoidably  plunges  them  in- 
to all  the  machinations  of  pride,  all  the  .intrigues  of 
gallantry,  all  the  intricacies,  rifques,  and  vicillitudes 
of  biifmei>\  Sentiment  conlequently  lofes  its  weight, 
and  feniibility  its  edge,  Intereft  triumphs  in  the  ab- 
fence  of  principle,  and  nature  relinquifhe^ her  domin- 
.;!!  to  art. 

The  moft  engaging  difpofitions  of  the  female 
mind  feldom  undergo  fuch  a  total  revolution.  If  we 
except  a  few  of  the  mcfl  perverfe  and  unrelenting 
tempers,  women,  who  are  not  flagrantly  vicious,  have 
fti  !om  bad  hearts.  Their  attachments,  which  con* 
ftitute  the  moft  comfortable  circumftance  in  domeftic 
life,  when  innocent  and  undilfembled,  are  more  laft- 
ing  and  fervent  than  ours. 

Let  no  hbaldn^,  therefore,  however  plaufible 
'.nd  fallacious,  divert  the  attention  of  females  frorrt 
tellecKial  improvement.  In  youth,  all  the  powers 
urfenfual  or  pieafurable  enjoyments  are  nature,  and 
riecline  only  as  the  paflions  cocL  Then  let  the  fair 
fumifh  ihemfelves  with  a  flock  of  other  and  more 
durable  materials,  that  they  may  live  with  fatisfac- 
■'  on,  when  thefe  are  no  more. 

It  is  when  her  fibres,  and  juices,  and  falts  are 
tender  and  genial,  that  the  earth  receives  her  feed, 
that  the  liws  of  vegetation  operate,  and  that  all  thofe 
plants  take  root  and  fpring,  which  afterwards  fill  her 
l)ofora  with  plenty,  and  her  face  with  beauty.  Nor 
is  there  one  barren  or  blighted  fpot,  or  any  part  of 
her  furface more perfeaiy  black  and'  difmal  than  a 
mind  involved  in  ignorance,  or/ benumbed  with  in* 
leniibility. 

^  It?  the  feafon  of  youth,  therefore,- ladies  fhould 
maKe  it  their  Itudv  to  cultivate  their  minds  in  fuch  a' 
manner  a^  to  render  their  intrinfic  value  as  fubflan* 
tialasthey  wifh  their  exterior  to  be  dmw^/<f.  Knowl- 
edge  improves  the  human  intelle^,  and  endows  it 
with  ail  Its  excellence.  It  unniafks  to  our  view  our 
own  natures.  It  liiews  us  what  we  are,  and  difdofea 
Xlil  2 


ISO  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

all  that  can  be  hoped  or  dreaded  from  the  circum* 
fiances  we  are  in.  By  the  regulations  it  prefcribes, 
and  the  delicacy  it  infpire*,  knowledge  improves  our 
tafte  for  fociety,  and  imparts  a  finer  relifh  to  all  our 
mutual  attachments.  It  is  the  infeparable  handmaid 
of  happinefs ;  opens  a  thoufand  avenues  to  indul- 
gence of  the  pureft  and  molt  exalted  kind  ;  unlocks 
to  human  view  the  myfteries  of  Providence ;  creates 
a  heaven  on  earth ;  adds  to  the  joys  of  the  prefent 
the  hopes  of  futurity  ;  and  when  the  objefts  of  this 
world  expire  on  the'fenfes,  fills  the  whole  heart  with 
the  glorious  and  animating  profpefts  of  another. 

Without  knowledge  the  poiTefEons  of  time  were 
imperfeft,  and  the  prefages  of  eternity  unfatisfying. 
Speak,  ye  who  are  did  and  uninformed,  do  not  all 
things  appear  infipid  t  Your  paffions  have  loft  their 
fire,  your  feelings  their  edge,  your  very  fenfes  the  na- 
tural'relifh  of  their  refpeftive  objefts.  Worfe,  not 
better,  for  all  you  havefeen  and  heard,  in  the  various 
ftages  of  life,  your  every  thought  muft  be  as  infipid 
toothers,  as  it  is  to  yourfelves.  And,  of  all  the  emp- 
ty prattle  which  nils  an  empty  world,  that  of  fecond 
childhood,  becaufe  leaft  natural  and  innocent,  is  moft 
tlrefome  and  iinpertinenr.  Yet,  under  a  hoary 
head,  the  iacred  and  venerable  emblem  of  wifdom 
and  experience,  how  frequently  do  we  meet  with 
nothing  but  ftupidity,  puerility,  infignificance,  a  mind 
continually  out  of  humor,  and  a  tongue  that  never 
is  at  reil ! " 

Womea  can  never  amve  at  that  importance 
feemingly  defigned  them  by  nature,  while  their  genius 
is  not  cultivated,  and  their  latent  qualities  called  forth 
into  view.  Y'fible  qualities,  fuch  as  beauty,  and  the 
art  of  (hewing  it  to  advantage,  may  in  thofe  moments 
when  the  heart  is  foftened  by  love,  or  the  fpirits  ele- 
vated by  wine,  give  the  women  a  temporary  afcen- 
dancy  ever  the  men,  and  er^ble  them  to  bend  them 
at  pleafure ;  as  in  the   cafe  of  Thais  and  Alexander* 

Sjjch  an  afcendancy,  however,  is  commonly  fleeting 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  151 

and  tranfient.  Cool  reafon  foon  refumes  the  place 
which  pailion  had  ufurped ;  and  the  empire,  which 
had  been  built  on  paflion,  tumbles  like  the  haf clefs  fabric 
cfa  viftcn ;  while  that  which  is  fupported  by  mental 
beauties^  ftands  the  teft  of  time,  and  the  various  inci- 
dents of  life. 

ITie  fum  of  all  human  prudence  is  to  provide 
againft  the  vvorft.  Perfonal  beauty  foon  dies ;  but 
that  which  is  intelleftual  is  immortal.  ^  And  though 
age  bealmoft  every  where  attended  with  grey  hairs, 
fhattered  teeth,  dim  eyes,  trembling  joints,  fliort 
breath,  ftiff  limbs,  and  a  fhrivelled  fkin — there  is  a 
charm  in  wifdom,  which,  with  all  thefe  melancholy 
circumftances,  diffufes  a  pleafmg  ferenity  over  the 
evening  of  our  days.  Indeed,  nothing  is  fo  truly 
refpeftable  at  this  period  of  humanity,  when  dignifi- 
ed, as  it  ought  to  be,  by  all  the  habits  and  principles 
of  genuine  benignity  and  honor.  Age  is  then  wif- 
dom combined  with  experience.  It  is  the  very  fpirit 
or  fum  of  all  earthly  perfeftion.  It  is  an  emblem,  or 
camcft,  of  that  future  and  divine  fruition,  which  is 
the  certain  confequence,  and  happy  confummation,  of 
all  mental  and  moral  excellence. 

Thus  it  is  from  knowledge  alcne,  that  the  great- 
eft  and  the  bed  have  found  even  folitude  and  retire- 
ment fo  fmgularly  charming,  and  that  the  decline  of 
life,  with  all  its  infirmities,  10  frequently  glides  away 
amidft  the  fweetelt  endearments  and  the  fereaelt 
hopes.  It  is  this  which  coDftitutes  the  only  real  and 
lafling  diftindion  which  can  fubfift  between  mortals 
of  the  fame  fpecies ;  which  neither  rank,  nor  title, 
nor  fortune,  however  high  or  fplendid,  can  dellroy  or 
confer  ;  and  which,  on  every  emergency,  gives  an 
obvious  and  decided  fuperiority  to  wealth,  or  power, 
or  grandeur.  J4'>  knowledge,  women,  as  well  as 
men,  (hare  the  prerogative  of  intelligence,  hold  the 
dominion  of  the  world,  boafl  the  lineaments  of 
divinity^  aad  afpire  to  an  imitation  of  him  who  made 
them  I 


i3'Z  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

CHAP.  XLV. 

tD/fcvzak  Culture  and  Accc^mpRJJjmcnts  in  different:  J ^^es", 

jnLMONG  the  Greeks,  their  mothers  or  other 
iemaie  relations  taught  youDg  ladies  the  common  fe- 
male einployments  and  cuftoms  of  their  country ^and 
inftilled  into  the  minds  of  fvich  as  would  recdve  it, 
a  tincture  of  that  ftoical  pride  and  heroifin,  for  which 
their  men  were  fo  much-  renowned.  In  every  thing 
elfe  they  were  very  deficient,  and  their  conftant  con- 
finement added  w^nt  of  knov/ ledge  of  the  world  to 
their  v/ant  of  education. 

In  the  earlier  periods  of  the  great  republic  of 
Rome,  the  Romans  being  poor,  and  furrounded  with 
rude  and  ferocious  neighbors  like  themfeives,  were 
obliged  to  learn  rigid  economy,  inflexible  patriotifm, 
and  the  art  of  war.  Thefe  are  all  virtues  of  neceffity 
in  the  infancy  cf  almcft  every  Hate. 

The  duties  and  employments  of  domefuC  lifi^, , 
iiich  as  cookery,  fpinning,*  weaving,  and  fewiDg,were 
caught  the  Romxan  women  by  their  mothers  or  rela-- 
tions.    Thefe  alfo  fuperintended  not  only  their  feri- 
ous  ftudies,  but  even  their  amufements,  which  \vere 
always  conduced  with  decency  and  moderation. 
But  when  the  Romans  became,  rich  with  the  plunder  • 
of  their  neighbors,  the  tafte  for  the  arts  and  fciences 
became  more  general.    The  education  of  the  woret- 
en,  therefore,  began  to  be  extended  on  a  larger  fcale. 
To  the  domeftic  duties,  taught  them  by  their  moth- 
ers, v/ere  added  fuch  parts  of  polite  education. as 
were  thought  neceiTary  for  cultivating  their  minds. 

Cicero  mentions  with  high  eWt-?omiums,  feveral 
ladies  whofe  tafte  in  eloquence  and  philofcphy,  did 
honor  to  their  fex  ;  and  Quinftilian,  with  confidera- 
ble  applaule,  has  quoted  fome  of  the  letters  of  Corn* 
dia- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  1^3 

There  is  a  Ipeech  of  HortenCa,  preferved  by 
Appian,  which  for  elegance  of  language,  andjuftneis 
of  thought,  would  have  done  honor  to  a  Cicero,  or  a 
Demolthenes.  What  gave  occafion  to  this  fpeech 
was  the  following  circumftance  :  the  triumvirs  of 
Rome  wanted  a  large  fum  of  money  for  carrying  on 
awar,  and  having  met  with  great  difficulties  in  raif- 
ing  it,  they  drew  up  a  lift  of  fourteen  hundred  of  the 
richeft  of  the  ladies,  intending  to  tax  them.  I'hefe 
ladies,  after  having  in  vain  tried  every  raethod  to 
evade  fo  great  an  innovation,  at  laft  chofe  Hortenfia 
for  their  Ipeaker,  and  went  along  with  her  to  the 
market-place,  where  fhe  thus  addreffed  the  triumvirs, 
while  they  were  aciminiftering  juftice — 

'^  The  unhappy  women  you  fee  here  imploring 
your  juftice  and  bounty, would  never  have  prefumed 
to  appear  in  this  place,  had  they  not  firft  made  ufe 
of  all  other  means  which  their  natural  modefty  could 
fuggcft  to  them.  Though  our  appearing  may  feem 
contrary  to  the  rules  of  decency  prel'cribed  to  our  fex, 
which  we  have  hitherto  obferved  with  all  ftriftnefs  : 
vet  thelofsofour  fathers,  children,  brothers,  and 
hulbands,  may  fufficientlyexcufeus,  efpecially  whea 
their  unhappy  deaths  are  made  a  pretence  for  our 
further  misfortunes.  You  pretend  they  had  offend- 
ed and  provoked  you  :  But  what  injury  have  we 
women  done,  that  we  muft  be  impoverifhed  ?  If  we 
are  blameable  as  the  men,  why  do  you  not  prcfcribe 
us  too  ?  Have  we  declared  you  enemies  to  your  coun- 
try ?  Have  we  fuborned  your  foldiers,  raifed  troops 
againft  you,  or  oppofed  you  in  the  purfuit  of  thofc 
honors  and  offices  which  you  claim  ?  We  pretend 
not  to  govern  the  republic  ;  nor  is  it  our  ambition 
which  has  drawn  ^  the  prefent  misfortunes  on  our 
heads.  Empire,  "ignities,  and  honors  are  not  for  «j. 
Why  (liould  we  then  contribute  to  a  war  in  which 
we  have  no  manner  of  intcreft  > 

"  It  is  true,  indeed,  that  in  the  Carthaginian 
war,  our  mothers  allilted  the  republic,  which  was,  at 


154  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

that  time  reduced  to  the  utmoft  diftrefs.  But  nei- 
ther their  houfes,  their  lands,  nor  their  moveables, 
were  fold  for  that  fervice.  Some  rings  and  a  few 
jewels  furnilhed  the  fiipply.  Nor  was  it  conftraint, 
nor  violence,  that  forced  thefe  from  them.  What 
they  contributed  was  the  voluntary  offering  of  gen- 
eroiity. 

'^  What  danger  at  prefent  threatens  Rome  ?  If 
the  Gauls  or  Parthians  were  encamped  on  the  banks 
of  the  Tiber,  or  the  Anio,  you  fhould  find  us  no  lefs 
zealous  in  the  defence  cf  our  country  than  cur  moth- 
ers were  before  us.  Bat  it  becomes  not  us  ;  and  we 
are  refolved  that  we  will  not  be  any  way  concerned 
in  civil  war. 

"  Neither  Marius,  nor  Crcfar,  nor  Pompey , 
ever  thought  of  obliging  us  to  take  part  in  the  dom- 
eftic  troubles  which  their  ambition  had  raifed.  Even 
Sylla  hirafelf,  who  hrrt  fet  up  tyranny  in  Rome,  nev- 
er harbored  liich  an  intenti  -n.  And  yet  you  affume 
the  glorious  title  of  Reformers  of  the  State  / — a  title 
which  will  turn  to  your  eternal  infamy,  if  without 
the  leafl  regard  to  the  laws  of  equity,  you  perfifl  in 
your  wicked  refoiution  of  plundering  thofe  of  their 
lives  and  fortunes  who  have  given  you  no juft  caufe 
of  ofience.'' 

The  triumvirs  beirg  offended  at  the  boldnefs  of 
the  women,  ordered  them  to  be  driven  away.  But 
the  populace  growing  tumultuous,  they  were  afraid 
of  an  infurreftion,  and  reduced  the  lill:  of  the  women 
to  be  taxed,  to  four  hundred. 

During  the  reign  of  chivalry  in  Europe,  women 
endeavored  only  to  acquire  fuch  accompliihments  as 
would  excite  heroes  to  fight  for,  and  lovers  to  adore 
them..  So  far  were  they  from  pcffeffmg  any  literary 
attainments,  that  they  could  hardl^'^read  the  language 
oftheirrefpeclive  countries'. 

In  the  following  age  the  ladies  found  that  the 
fame  arts  which  captivated  a  knight  clad  in  armor 
and  ignorance,  were  in  vaii3  praftifed  upon  tb^  en> 


8-K.KTC[IES  OF  THE  SEX.  155 

.,5..-^:iea  icholar  and  philofopher.  Being  Gonfcious, 
therefore,  that  the  way  to  pleafe  the  men  was  to  ieem 
fond  of  what  they  approved,  and  diflike  what  they 
dilliked,  they  applied  themfe Ives  to  letters  and  phil- 
ofophy,  hoping  to  keep  pofl'eflion,  by  their  talents, 
of  what  they  had  gained  by  their  charms.  Though 
thefe  meafures  were  not  calculated  to  infpire  love, 
and  attraft  the  hearr,  and  confequently  did  not  pro- 

.duce  the  efFefts  which  the  ladies  intended,  yet  they 
raifed  them  in  that  period  to  a  pitch  of  learning  un- 
known in  any  other. 

A  love  of  gaiety,  expence,  and  parade,  waS  in- 
troduced into  Lurope  by  the  imneiife  treafures  of 
gold  and  filver  imported  from  America,  after  the 
difcovery  and  conqued:  of  that  ccuntry  ;  and,  per- 
haps, by  the  ftill  greater  rches  accumulated  by  com- 
merce.   The  French  took  the  le.id  in  tr.is  new  mode 

^  of  life,  and  foon  dfleiDiuatcd  it  all  ever  Europe. 
Tne  education  of  tV»eir  women,  which  before  confiil- 
ed  in  reading  their  own  hmgu'^ge,  and  in  1  arning 
needle-work,  was  by  degrees  changed  to  vocal  and 
inllrumental  mufic,  daticing,  and  dreiiiiig  in  the  moft 
fafhionable  manner  ;  to  w.ich  may  be  added  the  art 
of  captivating  and  governing  their  men.  This  flimfy 
pattern  was  copied  by  every  other  nation. 

In  Afia  and  Africa  it  is  the  inrereft  of  the  men 

.  that  almO'l  ^  no  culture  fhoiild  t>e  bellowed  on  the 
mindsof  their  females,  left  it  {]i:uld  teich  them  to 
afTcrt  their  rights  of  nature,  and  refufe  to  fubmit  to 
the  yoke  of  bondage  io  unjuftly  impjfed  upon  them, 
'ncy  are,  however,  taught  all  the  p  rfonal  graces  ; 
,.:id  particular  care  is  taken  to  inflru<^t  them  in  the  art 
of  converfiug  with  elegance  and  vivacity.    Some  of 

.  them  are  alfo  taught  to  write,  and  the  generality  to 

read,  that  they  may  be  able  to  read  the  Koran.    jBut, 

indeid  of  this,  tricy  more  frequent  lyfpend  their  time 

in  reading  tales  and  romances  ;  which,  being  related 

1  all  the  lively  imagery  of  the  eaft,  feldom  fail  to 

orrupt  the  minds  of  crcatinesihut  up  from  the  world. 


ij6  SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX. 

and  confequently  formmg  to  themfelves  extravagant 
and  romantic  notions  of  all  that  is  tranfafted  in  it. 

Though  they  are  never  permitted  to  attend  pub- 
lic worfhip  in  a  mofque,  they  are  obliged  to  learn  by 
heart  fome  prayers  in  Arabic,  which  when  they 
aflemble  in  a  hall  at  certain  hours,  they  repeat.  They 
are  enjoined  always  to  wafn  themfelves  before  pray- 
ing ;  and  indeed,  the  virtues  of  cleanlinefs,  of  cham- 
ty  and  obedience  are  fo  ftrongJy  and  conftantly  in- 
culcated on  their  minds,  that,  in  fpite  of  their  general 
corruption  of  manners,  there  are  feveral  among  them 
who,  in  their  common  deportment  do  credit  to  the 
mftruftions  beftowed  upon  them.  This  indeed  is 
not  much  to  be  wondered  at,  when  v/e  confid- 
er  the  tempting  recompence  that  is  held  out  to 
them.  They  are,  in  paradife,  to  flourifli  for  ever  in 
the  vigor  of  youth  and  beauty  ;  and  however  old, 
ugly,  or  deformed  wl>en  thev  depart  this  life,  are 
there  to  be  immediately  transformed  into  all  that  is 
fair,  and  all  that  is  graceful. 

It  is  a  very  laboriQus  tafk  to  learn  to  read  or 
write  the  Chinefe  language-  Even  among  the  men, 
it  feems  chiefly  confined  to  fuch  as  afpire  after  em- 
ployments of  ftate.  Women  are  feldom  much  in- 
Itrufted  in  it.  Such  as  are  rich,  however,  learn  mu- 
fic,  the  modes  of  behavior,  and  ceremonial  punftilios 
of  the  country.  The  laft  of  thefe  cannot  poflibly  be 
difpenfed  with.  A  failure  in  the  leaft  circumftance, 
as  the  number  of  bows,  or  the  manner  of  making 
them  to  a  fuperior,  would  infalliably  ftamp  the  mai'k 
of  ignorance  on  the  perfon  fo  failing.  Women  are, 
in  general,  alfo  taught  a  bafhfulnefs  and  raodelly  of 
behavior  not  to  be  met  with  in  any  other  country. 

In  many  parts  of  North-America  they  never 
beat  their  children  of  either  fex.  This,  the^r  fay, 
w^ould  only  weaken  and  difpirit  their  minds  without 
producing  any  good  efFedt.  When  therefore  a  moth- 
er fees  her  daughter  behave  ill,  inftead  of  having  re- 
courfe  to  a  rod,  fhe  f^ls  a-crying.    The  daughter  Dat» 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  157 

urally  inquires  the  caufe  :  the  mother  anfwers,  be- 
caule  you  difgrace  me.  This  reproach  feldom  fails 
to  produce  an  amendment. 

Gentle  treatment  of  children  we  are  informed, 
is  abfolately  neceflkry.  The  punifhments  inilifted  ia 
mod  other  nations  only  mnke  the  Japanese  :nore  flub- 
bora  and  refraftory  ;  and  ibmetimes  ti.ere,  as  well 
as  ia  America,  provoke  them  to  com:nit  fuicide.' 

The  ilim  of  what  has  Veen  (aid  is  this: — Tha 
^.iucation  of  women  in  Europe  is  perhaps  too  much 
calculated  to  i-^fpire  them  with  love  of  adniiration,  of 
trifl'nu;,  a:5d  of  amufeiiicnt.  In  moll  other  plpxes  of 
the  globe  it  is  infinitely  worfe.  It  tends  to  tr?.dicata 
every^  moral  leDtiment,  and  introduce  vice  drefled  up 
in  the  garb  of  voluptuous  refinement. 

That  v/omen  fhould  pore  out  their  fair  eyes  in 
becoming  adepts  in  fearning,  would  be,  highly  impro- 
per. Nature  feems  not  to  have  intended  thtm  for 
the  more  intenfe  and  fevere  ftudies.  "J'he  gainii  g  of 
the  laurels  of  literary  fame  would  rob  their  brows  of 
manyof  thofe  channs  which  to  them  are  more  valu- 
able, as  they  are  by  men  more  efteemed.  Ignorapce 
makes  a  female  contemptible,  pedantry  mak  s  ber 
ridiculous.    Both  extremes  (hould  be  avoided. 


=«aa^ 


CHAP.    XLVI. 

Of  the  neccjfary  Mental  AccompliJJjincnis  of  Laaws, 

.  X  liF'  degree  of  thofe  intelleftual  accomplifhTients 
\j^h:ch  women  fliould  aim  at,  it  is  not  eafy  to  deter- 
,iiiine.  That  mufl  depend  on  the  capacities,  oppor- 
.lunitics  and  encouri^gements  which  they  feverally 
enjoy. 

H'lfi'.n^  in  which  may  be  included  hirgr?phy 
2-'  't  to  employ  a  con fiderable  (hnre 

^  ..  Th^  f'  piftures  which  ii  cxliibits 

XIV 


158  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

of  the  paflions  operaiing  in  real  Ufe,and.geniunecha- 
rafters  ;  of  virtues  to  be  iinitated,  and  of  vices  to  be 
ftunned  ;  of  the  eiiefts  of  both  on  lociety  and  indi- 
viduals ;  of  the  murability  cF  human  affair?  ;  of  t-e 
conduct  of  divine  Providence  ;  of  the  great  confe- 
quenc  js  that  often  arife  from  Uttle  events  ;  of  the 
weaknefs  of  power,  and  the  wanderings  of  prudence 
in  the  human  race  ;  with  the  fudden,  unexp^fted^and 
frequrntly  un-^ccountable  revolutions  that  dafh  tri- 
umphant wickedneis,  or  dif^ppoiut  prefumptuous 
hope — :he  piftares  wh\diiji/I(,ry  exhibits  of  all  thefe 
have  been  ever  reckoned  by  the  beft  judges,  among 
thericheft  fcurces  of  initruction  and  enterti^inment. 
Voyages  and  Travels — tOO,  are  very  inllructive 
aud  entertaining.  How  amufing  ar2  they  to  the  cu- 
lioiity,  how  enlarging  to  our  profpefts  of  mankind  ! 
They  make  us  ufe fully  inquifitive^andfurnilhuswith 
iubi^'cts  of  refleftioD. 

There  is  not  a  fon  or  daughter  of  Adam  who 
has  not  occafionfor  Geography.  It  is  often  ufeful  in 
converfaticn  ;  and  a  competent  knowledge  of  it  may 
be' acquired  with  httlc  apphcation,  but  much  amufe- 
ment. 

The  principal  f^ifts  or  great  outlines  of  Jftrmom^ 
are  beautiful  as  well  as  improving.  Some  of  them 
prefent  the  m^ft  interefting  icenes.  All  contain  the 
mcft  pleafjng  difcoverier.  They  open  and  enlarge 
the  mind  ;  they  dilate  and  humanize  the  heart ;  they 
remind  us  that  we  are  citizens  of  the  univerfe  ;  they 
Ihew  us  how  fmall  a  part  we  fiil  in  the  immenfe  orb 
cf  being.  Amid  the  amplitude  of  fuch  contempla- 
tions, Superfluous  titles  fhrink  away.  Wealth  and 
grandeur  "  hide  their  diminifhed  leads."  A  gener- 
ous^mJoition  rifes  in  the  thoughtful  mind,  to  approve 
itfelf  to  the  all-inip^ciing  eye  of  ifzm  to  whom  none 
cf  his  works  ar  3  indifferent. 

In  Poetry  of  all  kinds,  but  chieflv  of  the  fuijliirer 
forms,  where  nature,  virtue,  ?ind  religirn  are  pointed 
cind  embelliihed  with  all  the  beauties  of  a  chafte,  yet 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.  iS9 

elevated  imagination,  what  a  field  is  opened  within 
the  reach,  and  adapted  to  the  turn  of  the  female  fac- 
ulties !  What  a  profufion  of  inteileaual  ornament  is 
fpread  before  them,  for  memory  to  coUcft,  and  for 
rcflrclioa  to  work  upon  !  How  many  fprighily,  de- 
lightful, and  lofty  ideas  do  here  pits  before  the  men- 
tal eye,  all  drcfted  in  tlie  brighteft  colors  !  How 
ftrangely  ii:excufable  mult  thole  be  who  complain  at 
any  limeof  want  of  amufement^when  the  genius  and 
invention  of  every  illuminated  age  Irave  taken  fuch 
happy  pains  to  Ibpply  the  noblefh  To  obtain  all  the 
poetical  works  of  the  Britidi  Poets,  would  be  ex- 
peafive  :  Xva  therefore  would  recommend  a  judicious 
choice  of  the  many  volumes  publiflied  of  Sele^fions*, 
m  particular  a  very  excellent  work  latelv  (i  807)  pub- 
liflied for  IMr.  Bumficad,  viz.  '"  Selcc]:  'Cclleaion  of 
Poems,  and  other  elegant  poetical  Extrads  by  the 
moft  celebrated  authors,  from  Pope^  Gcllfmith^  Blair ^ 
Toung^  Graj^Co-jjper^  Watts ^  rarv.cl^  More^  Kciue^Scc, 
'How  much  are  both  iexes  indebted  to  the  ele- 
gant pens  cf  t!  e  Speclator^^  Rarr.bler^  Mvi7iturcr^  Con* 
noijeur^  Mct,  &c.  for  a  fpecies  of  inftruftion  better 
fitted  perhaps,  than  moft  ethers  ofhuman  device,  to  de- 
light and  improve  at  t'le  fame  moment!  Such  is  its  extent, 
its  diverlity,  its  familiarity,  its  eafc,  its  playful  man- 
ner, its  immediate  reference  to  fcenes  and  circum- 
ftances  with  which  v/e  are  every  day  ccnverfant. 

There  are  very  few  novels  that  can  be  read  with 

fafety  ;  and  fewer  Hill  that  convey  any  ufeful  in:lruc* 

tion.     But  as  ladicS  -will  read  novels,  the  bell  and 

rr  :ent  produclions  cf  this  kind  are  thole  of 

/^  •  .     ,  Cumberhind^   Mifs    Barney  ;    Mrs.    Ihlm/ii 

.ou.u,  and  Mifs  B/cwer^s  Features  from  Life  ;  Car- 

:ne  of  Lichtficld,  the  Vicar  of  Wakefield,  and  a 

-^  others. 

The  mofi  obvious  branches  both  of  Natuml  Phil- 
'-^ph;:^  and  Natural H'iJ}orjfi\ou\^  engage  at  lei^ll,fome 
jrtion  of  our  lime,  ihat  tkey  are  fo  feldom  and 
;  ili«ihtly  thought  of,  is  rather  a  melancholy  rcflec- 


160  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

ti  30.  Does  creation,  through  her  infinircl^  extended 
and  infinitely  diveriiSed  i'cenery  difplay  innumerable 
woniers  ?  Have  thefe  beea  traced  with  ikill'  and  ac- 
curcicy  by  many  learned  and  many  laborious  hands  ? 
Are  t  .ey  kiii  open  to  as,  and  almoft  prefl'ed  upon  us 
^Vom  every  qaarier  ?  And  can  we,  \vi  h  a  giddy  eye, 
tarn  away  from  this  n.:jbl.:and  euctrtaining  fpeclacle, 
to  gazjon  the  meaneft  ornament  cf  be'^iuty,  or  the 
(illiefl:  pageant  of  vanity  ? 

Thi  l^Vench  and  Italian,  as  well  as  the  Latin 
and  Gre  k  largirages,  may  be  read  l)y  the  fair  fex 
v/ith  much  pleafure  and  advantage.  Bv  th  €e  means 
tneir  taf!:e  will  be  innproved,and  a  never-fa  ling  fource 
of  ia'iruvili:n  will  be  opened.  Several  ladies  of  raak 
Hni  fafhion,  of  the  prefent  day,  make  Virgil  and 
'Hordes  tncir  Cj:r:panioa3,  two  or  three  mornings 
every  v,Tc^k. 

\),:z  ?-ilf  hDur^  or  mora,  either  b^fbrf  or  imme- 
diately af-er  breaktuft,  (bould  be  conv:aKtly  devoted 
to  tha  attentive  peruf^l  of  fome  part  o?Holy  Writ.  It 
is  th2  balled  on  which  cur  religion  is  founded.  From 
this  pra£Bce  more  real  bea<;fit  will  be  reaped  than  can 
ba  fuppoied  by  thofe  who  hav^  never  made  the  ex. 
periment. ' 

I\he  fcriptures  prefent  religion  to  us  in  the  moil 
engaging  drefs,  l^hey  communicate  truths  which 
philolbphy  could  never  inveftigate,  and  in  a  ftyle 
which  poetry  can  never  equal.  Calculated  alike  to 
profit  ani  to  pleafe,  they  inform  the  underflandiog, 
elevate  the  aiiections,  and  entertain  the  imagination. 
Indited  under  the  influence  of  that  Being  to  whom 
all  hearts  are  known,  and  all  events  foreknown,  they 
fuit  mankind  in  all  fituations,  grateful  as  the  manna 
that  defcendtd  from  ab')ve,and  fuited  to  every  palate. 
An  Eliza,  Rowe^  an  Han?iah  More  have  lived  and  died 
28  pious  and  amiable  ornaments  of  the  fex  :  Let  them 
have  many  followers. 

The  faireft  productions  of  human  wit,  after  a 
few  perufals,  like  gathered  flowers,  wither  in  our 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  idi 

hands,  and  lofe  their  fragrance  :  Is  it  fo  with  the  fii- 
cred  pages  ?  No,  indeed—To  the  heaven-born  Ibui, 
to  one  who  has  been  '*  renewed  in  the  Tpirit  of  his 
mind,"  who  has*'  pjlTed  from  death  unto  htc,"  (and 
to  fach  a  charafter  only  will  the  obftiv.ition  apply) 
the  fcriptures  are  unfading  pi  ints  of  paradife—the 
more  they  are  attended  to  by  fuch  a  charafler,  the 
more  beautiful  they  will  appear.  They  are  the  ''joy 
and  the  rejoicing  of  their  heart."  Their  blocm  ap- 
pears to  be  daily  heightened.  Frefli  odours  are  dif- 
fufed,  and  new  fweets  extrac^led  from  them.  "  In 
commending  to  your  care  this  Standard"  (in  the  ele- 
gant addrefs  of  a  lady  to  a  military  company)  "  we 
commit  to  your  i'acrcd  keeping  our  virtue,  our  hon- 
or, and  our  Holy  Faith  !'' 

The  fcriptures  have  been  ftudied  and  admired 
by  the  greateft  and  beft  of  men,  as  well  as  women, 
whatever  inilruftion  or  amufement  may  be  derived 
from  human  oompofitions,  let  it  always  be  remem- 
bered that  the  facred  writings  al6ne  contain  that  wil- 
dom, "  which  maketh  wile  unto  lalvation.*' 

Controverfy  on  religious  fubjecls  fhoul  J  feldom 
cr  never  be  meddled  with.  Such  bocks  ought  to  be 
read  as  are  addrefTed  to  the  Heart,  which  infpire  pious 
and  devout  aSeftions,  and  tend  to  regulate  the  con- 
duft. 


•■^7g^= 


T. 


CHAP.    XLVII. 

Of  the  Momjlic  Life. 


HE  venerable  Bcdc  has  p:iven  us  a  very  ftriking 

,  (^ture  of  Monaflic  enormities,  in  his  epiftle  to 
Egbert.  From  this  we  learn  that  many  young  men 
v.-'-ohad  no  title  to  the  monaflic  prcfellion,  gotpof- 
\  of  monafteries ;  \vhere,  inftead  of  engaging  in 
....  ^ifenc^  ^^*>•r  country,  as  their  age  and  rack 
XIV  2 


i62  SKETCHES  gf  the  SEX. 

required,  they  indulged  themfelves  ia  the  moft  diflb* 
lute  jndcieoce. 

We  Iccirn  from  Dugdale,  thit  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  the  Second,  the  nuns  of  Amlbury  abbey  in 
Wiklhlre  were  expelled  from  that  religious  houfe  on 
account  of  their  incontinence.  And  to  exhibit  in  Vre 
mcft  lively  colors  the  total  corruption  of  raon^ftic 
challity,  biihop  Burnet  informs  us  in  his  ^'  Hiflcry 
cf^the  Refcnnation/'  that  when  the  nunneries  were 
viiited  by  the  command  of  Henry  the  VIII,  "  whole 
houfes  almofl,  were  found  whofe  vows  had  been 
made  in  vain." 

When  we  confider  to  what  oppreffive  indolence, 
to  what  a  variety  of  wretchednei's  and  guilt, 'the 
young  and  fair  inhabitants  of  the  cljiiter  were  fre- 
quently betrayed,  we  ought  to  admire  thofe  benevo- 
lent authors  who,  when  the  tide  of  religious  prejudice 
ran  very  ftrong  ia  favor  of  monaltic  virginity,  had 
ipirit  en  ugh  to  oppoie  the  torrent,  and  to  caution 
the  devout  and  tender  fex  againll  fo  dangerous  a  prc- 
feilion.  It  is  in  this  point  of  view  that  the  charafter 
cf  Erafmas  sppears  with  the  moll  amiable  luftre  ;  and 
his  name  ought  to  be  eternally  dear  to  the  female 
world  in  particular.  Though  his  fludies  and  confti- 
tution  led  him  almcft  to  idolize  thofe  eloquent  fathers 
cf  the  church  who  have  magnified  this  kind  of  Ufe, 
bis  good  lenfe  and  his  accurate  lurvey  of  the  human 
race,  enabled  him  to  judge  of  the  mifery  in  v/hich 
female  youth  was  continually  involved  by  a  precipi- 
tate choice  of  the  ver!.  He  knew  ihe  fuccefsiul  arts 
by  which  the  fub^le  and  rapacious  moLks  inveigled 
young  women  of  opulent  families  into  the  cloilterj 
and  he  exerted  his  lively  and  delicate  wit  in  oppofi* 
iiZD.  to  fo  pernicious  an  evik 

The  writings  of  many  eminent  authors  have 
been  kvelled  againft  the  abufes  of  the  monaitic  life. 
But  feveral  of  thefe,  like  the  noted  work  of  the  hu- 
morous Rabelais,  appear  to  have  fLwed  from  a  fpirit 
^:. s  wanton  and  licentious  as  ever  lurked  in  a  convent* 


SKETCHES  OP  the  SEX.  i6j 

It  is  not  thus  with  Erafmus.  His  produftion^  are 
\^Titten  with  admh*able  plep.lantry,  and  ieem  to  have 
been  dictated  by  a  challe  delke  to  promote  the  felic- 
ity of  the  fair  fex. 

In  thofe  nations  of  Europe  where  nunneries  dill 
ex'^ft,  how  many  lovely  viftims  are  continually  fr.crU 
ficed  to  the  avarice  or  abfurd  ambition  of  inhuman 
parents  !  The  miftry  of  thd'e  vi6lims  has  been  paint- 
ed with  great  force  by  feme  benevolent  writers  of 
France. 

In  mcft  of  thofe  pathetic  hiflories  that  are  foun- 
ded on  the  abufe  of  convents,  the  mifery  originates 
from  the  parent,  and  falls  up:n  the  child.  The  re- 
verfe  has  fometimes  happened  ;  and  there  are  exam- 
ples of  unhappy  parents,  who  have  been  rendered 
miferable  by  the  religious  perverfity  of  a  daughter. 
In  the  fourteenth  volume  cf  that  very  araufmg  work, 
Lcs  Caufcs  Cclebrcs^  a  wc  rk  which  is  laid  to  have  been 
the  ftiV^rite  reading  cf  Voltaire,  there  is  a  ftriking 
hiitcry  of  a  girl  under  age,  who  was  tempted  by 
pious  artifice  to  fettle  herfelf  in  a  c  nvent,  in  exprefs 
cppcfiti^n  to  parental  authority.  Her  parents,  who 
had  in  vain  tried  the  mod  tender  perfuafion,  endeav- 
oured at  laft  to  redeem  their  loft  child,  by  a  legal 
prccefs  agalnit  the  nunnery  in  which  (he  was  iraprif- 
cned.  The  pleadings  en  this  remarkable  trial  may,, 
p.'rhaps,  be  jufdy  reckoned  among  the  fineft  p'eces  of 
eloquence  that  the  lawyers  of  France  haveproduced* 
.MonCeur  Giliet,  the  advccate  for  the  parents,  repre- 
fented,  ia  th:^  bcldcil  and  moH:  afleclin^'^  language,  the 
extreme  hafenefs  of  this  religious  fedudion.  His 
appeared  to  have  fixed  the  fentiments  of 
J ;  but  the  ciL-fe  of  fuperflition  was  pleaded 
bv  an  advccarc  of  equal  power,  and  it  finally  prevail- 
ed. The  unfortunate  parents  cf  Maria  Vernal  (for 
Ills  was  the  name  of  the  unfortunate  girl)  were  con- 
.emned  torefign  her  forever,  and  to  make  a  ccnfid- 
cr .  .ie  payment  to  thofe  artful  devotees  who  hod  pU 
CiJy  roblx;d  then:  cf  their  chili 


1^4  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

When  we  refled:  on  the  various  evils  that  have 
arlfen  in  convents,  v/e  have  the  llrongett  reafon  to 
rejoice  and  glory  in  that  reformation  by  w^hich  the 
nunneries  of  England  were  aboiifhed.  Yet  it  would 
not  be  candid  or  jufl  to  coniider  all  thefe  as  the  mere 
harbc  urs  of  licenticufnefs  j  fmce  we  are  told  that,  at 
the  time  of  their  fuppreilion,  fome  of  our  religious 
houfes  were  very  honorably  diilingulfhed  by  the  pu- 
n!y  of  their  inhabitants.  "  The  vifitors,''  fays  Bifh- 
op  Burnett,  ''  interceded  earneftly  for  one  nunnery 
in  Oxfordfhire,Godfl:ow, where  there  was  great  ftrifl:- 
nefs  of  life,  and  to  which  moft  of  the  young  gentle- 
women of  the  country  v/ere  fent  to  be  bred  ;  fo  that 
the  gentry  of  the  country  defired  the  king  would 
(pare  the  hcufe :  yet  all  was  ineffeftual/" 

In  this  point  of  view,  much,  undoubtedly,  may 
be  faid  in  favour  of  convents.  Yet  v/hen  the  argu* 
ments  on  both  fides  are  fairly  v.^eijxhed,  it  is  preiii- 
R>ed,  that  every  true  friend  to  female  innocence  will 
rej  )ice  in  thofe  fenfible  regulations  which  cur  Catho- 
lic neighbors  have  lately  made  refpefting  nunneries, 
and  which  feera  to  promife  their  univerial  abclition. 

As  convents,  for  many  ages,  were  thetreafurcs 
of  all  the  learning  that  remained  upon  earth,  one  is 
rather  furprized  to  find  fo  few  monaftic  ladies,  who 
have  bequeathed  to  the  world  any  literary  prcduftion. 
Perhaps,  indeed,  many  a  fair  and  chaite  author 
has  exiited,  whofe  nam-e  and  works  have  been 
unjufkly  buried  in  fudden  oblivion. 

Juana  Inez  de  la  Cruz,  a  native  of  the  New 
Hemifphere,  was  fo  eminent  for  her  poetical  talents, 
that  Ihe  has  been  honoured  with  the  title  of  a  Tenth 
Mufe, 

A  fhort  2ccount  of  this  lady,  not  much  knovm 
in  Europe,  with  a  fpecimen  of  her  poetry,  will  no 
dcubt  be  acceptable  to  female  readers. 

Juana  was  born  in  November  165 1,  at  the  dif- 
tance  of  a  few  leagues  from  the  city  of  Mexico.  Her 
father  was  one  of  the  many  Spaniih  gentlemen,  who 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.  1(^5 

^  .:■  ,:.ht  to  improve  a  fcanty  fcrtune  by  an  eftablifh- 
a  cat  in  Amenca,  where  he  married  a  lady  of  that 
country,  deicended  from  Spanilh  parents.^  iheir 
daughter  Juana  was  difllngu'lhed  in  her  infancy  by 
an  uncoinmon  p2fliou  for  literature,  and  a  wonderful 
facility  in  the  compofition  of  Spanifh  verfes.  Her 
parent?,  len,t  her,  when  fhe  was  eight  years  old,  to 
rcfide  with  her  ui  cle  in  the  city  of  Mexico.  She  had 
there  the  advantage  of  a  learned  education ;  and,  as 
her  extraordinary  talents  artrafted  univerfal  regard, 
file  was  patronilcd  by  the  lady  of  the  vlcercy,  the 
Marquis  de  Mancera,  and,  at  the  age  of  leveateen, 
was  received  into  his  family.  A  Spanifh  economiit 
cf  Juana  relates  a  remarkable  anecdote,  which,  he 
fays,  was  communicated  to  him  by  the  viceroy  himfdf, 
1  hat  nobleman,  altonilhcd  by  the  extenfive  learning 
of  young  Juana,  invited  fortv  of  the  moft  eminent 
i'terati  that  his  country  could  afford,  to  try  the 
extent  and  lolidity  of  Juana*s  erudition.  The 
young  female  fcholar.  was  freely  but  politely  quef- 
tioned,  on  the  difttrent  branches  of  fcience,  by  theol- 
rgiins,  philofophers,  mathem-uicians,  hifioriai:s,  and 
poets;  "and  as  a  royal  galleon/'  fays  cur  Span- 
ii'h  author,  "would  defend  herfelf  againfc  a  few 
fnailop^  that  might  attack  her,  fo  did  Juana  Inez  ex- 
tricate  herfelf  from  the  various  quefticns,^  arguments 
and  rejoinders,  that  each  in  his  ov/n  province  propo- 
l;xi  to  her." 

Theapplaufe  which  (he  received,  on  this  fignal 
difplay  of  her  accomplifhments,  was  far  from  inlpir- 
ing  the  modeft  Juana  with  vanity  or  prefumption. 
Indeed,  a  picus  humility  was  her  moll  llriking  char- 
;:(fterirtic.      Her  life  amounted  only  to  fcrty-fcur 
\     is;  and  of  thefe  fhe  paffed  twenty-feven,  diftin- 
.  i:ed  by  the  moft  exemplary  exercile  of  all  the  re- 
ligious virtues,  in  the  convent  of  St.  Geronimo.  Her 
delight  in  books  was  extreme,  dud  fhe  is  faid  to  have 
'  1  library  of  four  rhoufand  volumes ;  but 
.  the  dole  of  her  life  fhe  made  a  llriking  facri- 


i66  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

fice  to  charity,  by  felling  her  darling  books  for  the 
relief  of  the  poor.  Few  female  authors  have  been 
more  celebrated  in  life,  or  in  death  more  lamented. 
The  colleftion  of  her  works,  in  threequartQ  volumes, 
contains  a  number  of  panegyrics,  in  verfe  and  proie, 
befiowed  on  this  chafta  poetefs  by  the  molt  illuftricus 
characters  both  of  Old  and  New  Spain.  The  moit 
ienfible  of  the  Spanilh  critics.  Father  Feyjoo,  has 
made  this  general  remark  on  Juana's  compolitions — 
"  that  they  excel  in  eafe  and  elegance,  but  are  defi- 
cient in  energy ;"  a  failing  the  more  remarkable,  as 
the  pious  enthufiafm  of  this  poetical  nun  was  fo  great, 
that  fne  wrote  in  her  own  blood  a  profeffion  of  her 
own  faith.  It  may  be  obferved,  however,  in  anfwer 
to  her  critic,  that  mod  of  Juana's  vtrfes  are  written 
on  fubj efts,  where  poetical  energy  was  not  be  expec- 
ted. Many  of  her  poems  ai'e  occ.ifional  compliments 
to  her  particular  friends  ;  and,  in  her  facred  dramas, 
the  abfurd  fuperflitions  of  her  country  were  fufficient 
to  annihilate  all  poetical  fublimit y. 

In  one  of  her  fhort  produftions,  fhe  defcribes  the 
injuftice  of  men  towards  her  own  fex.  An  imitaUoa 
of  this  performance,  in  En|i,liil'),  is  as  fellows : 

*'  Weak  men  !  who  without  reafon  aim 
To  load  poor  woman  with  abufe. 
Not  feeing  that  yourfelves  produce 
The  very  evils  that  you  tlame ; 

You  'gainfi  her  firm  refiflance  ftrive  ; 
And,  having  ftruck  her  jmlgment  mute. 
Soon  to  her  levity  impute 
Wiiat  from  your  labour  your  derive. 

Of  woman's  weaknefs  much  afraid. 
Of  your  own  prowefs  flill  you  boaft ; 
Like  the  vain  child  who  makes  a  ghoft, 
Then  fears  what  he  himfelf  has  made. 
Her,  whom  your  arms  have  once  embrac'^J, 
You  think  prefumptuoufly  to  fiad, 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  167 

When  (he  is  woo'd,  as  Thais  kind, 
Whsn  wedded  us  Liicretia  chafle. 

How  rare  a  i'odi  mufl  he  appear, 
Vyhofe  felly  mounts  to  fuch  a  pafj?. 
That  firft  he  breathes  upon  the  glafs, 
I'hen  grieves  becaule  it  is  not  clear  ! 

Still  with  urjuiT,  ungrateful  pride, 
^'ou  meec  both  favour  and  difdaia  ; 
The  iirin  as  cruel  you  arraign. 
The  tender  you  as  weak  deride. 

Your  fcolifh  humor  none  can  pleafe ; 
Sine?,  ju:?ging  all  with  equal  phk-gm. 
One  for  her  rlzor  ycu  condemn. 
And  one  ycu  cenfure  for  her  eafe. 

What  wond'rous  gifts  mufl  her  adorn, 
Who  would  your  lading  love  engage, 
When  rigorous  nymphs  excite  your  ra^e. 
And  eafy  fair  ones  raife  your  fcorn  ! 

liut  while  you  (hew  your  pride  or  power, 
Wi'h  tyrant  pailicns  vairly  hot, 
S^eVs  only  biett  who  heeds  you  no". 
And  leaves  you  all  in  happy  hour.'* 


1 


=-Sf^«! 


CUAV 


l\i 


dt  different 


N  thee^rlier  age.<?,  ff  ntimenf  in  love  does  not  an- 
p.-ar  to  hnve  been  much  attended  to.  "When  Abra- 
ham fent  h. is  lervant  to  court  a  bride  for  his  fon  Ifaac, 
we  do  net  (b  much  rs  hear  that  Ifaac  was  c(  nfuited 
on  the  m?ttc-r  :  nor  is  there  even  a  fufpicion,  that  he 
^  •  diflike  the  wife  which  his  father  had 

fc- 


i6S  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

From  the  manner  in  which  Rebecca  was  folicit- 
ed,  we  learn,  that  women  were  not  then  courted  in 
peribn  by  the  lover,  but  by  a  proxy,  whom  he,  or  his 
parents,  deputed  in  his  ftead.  WeTkewife  fee,  that 
this  proxy  did  not,  as  in  modern  times,  endeavour  to 
gain  the  affeftlon  of  the  lady  he  was  fent  to,  by  en- 
larging on  the  perfoaai  properties,  and  mental  quali- 
fications of  the  1  )ver  ;  but  by  the  richnefs  and  mag- 
ni'icence  of  the  prefents  he  made  to  her  and  her  re- 

iLtiODS. 

Prefents  h?ve  been,  from  the  earlieft  ages,  and 
are  to  this  day  the  mode  of  tran fading  all  kinds  of 
bufinefs  in  the  Eall.  When  a  favour  is  to  be  afked 
cf  a  flip  rior,  one  cannot  hope  to  obtain  it  without 
a  prefer,  t.  Court  (hip,  therefore,  having  been  an- 
ciently tr mfar^ed  in  this  manner,  it  is  plain,  that  it 
was  only  c:nfi'ered  in  the  fame  light  as  any  other 
negotiable  bufmefs,  and  not  as  a  matter  of  fentiraent, 
and  of  the  heart. 

In  the  c  ^urtfnip,  however,  or  rather  pnrchafeof 
n  wife  by  Jacob,  we  meet  with  fomething  hke  fenti- 
ment ;  for  when  he  found  thnt  he  w?.s  not  polTelTed 
of  money  or  goods,  equal  to  the  price  which  was  pro- 
bably kt  upon  her,  he  not  only  condefcended  to  pur- 
chafe  her  by  fervitude,  but  even  feemed  much  difap- 
pointed  when  the  tender-eyed  Leah  was  faithlefsly 
impofed  upon  him  iniT:ead  of  the  beautiful  Rachel 

The  ancient  Giuls,  Germans,  and  neighboring 
nations  of  the  NortH,  had  fo  much  veneration  for  the 
fex  in  gener-^l,  that  in  courtfh-p  they  behaved  with  a 
fpirit  of  gallantry,  and  fhswed  a  degree  of  fen  timent, 
to  v/hich  tho/e  v/ho  called  them  Barbarianp,  never  ar- 
rived. Not  contented  with  getting  pofieffion  of  the 
perfon  of  his  mifirefs.  a  northern  lover  could  not  be 
fatisfied  without  the  fiacere  aff^ft'on  cf  her  heart  ; 
nor  was  his  miftrefr.  ever  to  be  gained  but  by  fuch 
methods  as  plainly  indicated  to  her  the  tendered  at- 
tachment from  the  moft  defer ving  man. 

The  women  cf  Scandinavia  were  net  to  be 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  i6,; 

courted  but  by  the  moft  afliduous  attendance,  fe- 
condeJ  by  fach  warlike  atchievements  as  the  cuftom 
of  the  country  had  rendered  necefl:^ry  to  make  a  man 
deCerving  cf  his  miftrefs.  On  theie  accounts,  we 
frequently  find  a  lover  accofling  the  obje6^  of  his  pa£- 
fion  by  a  minute  and  circumftantial  detaU  of  all  kte 
exploits,  and  aH  his  accoinplifliments,  "  We  fought 
with  iwords,"  fays  King  Regner,  in  a  beautiful  ode 
cotnpofed  by  himiilf,  in  memc>ry  of  the  deeds  of  his 
former  d^ys,  "  th  a  day  wherein  I  faw  ten  thoufand 
of  my  foes  rolling  in  the  duit,  near  a  promontory 
of  England,  A  dew  of  blood  diftiUed  from  our 
fwords.  The  arrows  which  flew  in  fearch  of  the 
helmets,  bellowed  through  the  air.  The  pleafure  oi 
that  day  was  truly  exquilite. 

We  fought  with  (Words,  A  young  man  fhouH 
mxrch  early  to  the  confli^fi:  of  arms.  Man  (hould  at- 
tiick  man,  or  bravely  relilt  him.  In  this  hath  always 
coniifted  the  nobility  cf  the  warrior.  He  who  afpires 
to  the  love  of  his  miftrefs,  ought  to  be  dauntlefs  in 
thccJ^ifhoffwords/' 

/I'he  defcendants  of  the  northern  nations,  long 
after  they  hiid  plundered  and  repeopled  the  greateft 
part  of  luirope,  retaine  \  nearly  the  fame  ideas  of 
love, :'-'  ■  '  rbe  (ame  methods  in  declaring  it, 

that  th  cd  from  their  anceftors,  "  Ix)ve,*' 

fays  William  of  Moniagnogout,  "engages  to  the 
rrof^  amiable  conduc^t.  i.ov<^  infpires  the  greateft 
^  Love  has  no  will  but  th;it  of  the  objeft  be- 
. .  - .,  nor  feeks  any  thing  but  what  will  augment  her 
^lo!^^.  You  cannot  love,  ncr  ought  fo  be  beloved, 
if  ycu  alk  any  thing  that  virtue  condemns.  Never 
<lia  1  form  a  wifh  that  could  wound  the  heart  ot 
mv  beloved,  nor  delight  in  a  pleafure  that  was  incon- 
fiftent  with  her  delicacv.'* 

The  method  c^      '  '  -ing  females,  among  fome 

t'  the  tril^ec  of  An  idians,  is  the  molt  fjmple 

'.     V^'hen  the  lover  go^f5 

begs  leave,  by  figns,  Ui 

XV 


170  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

enter  her  hut.  After  obtaining  this,  he  goes  in,  and 
fits  down  by  her  in  the  moft  refpeftful  f  lence.  If  ihe 
fuffers  him  to  remain  there  without  interruption,  her 
doing  fo  is  confenting  to  his  fuit.  If  however,  the 
iover  has  any  thing  given  him  to  eat  and  drink,  it  is  a 
refufal ;  though  the  woman  is  obliged  to  fit  by  him 
until  he  has  finilhed  his  repaft.  He  then  retires  in 
filence. 

In  Canada,  courtfhip  is  not  carried  on  with  that 
coy  refcrve,  and  feeming  fecrecy,  which  pohtenefs 
has  introduced  among  the  inhabitants  of  civilized  na- 
tions.  When  a  man  and  woman  meet,  though  they 
never  faw  each  other  before,  if  he  is  c:^.ptivated  with 
her  charms,  he  declares  his  pajffion  in  the  plaineft 
manner;  and  (he,  with  the  fame  fimplxity,  anfwers, 
Yes,  or  No,  without  further  deliberation.'  "  That 
female  referv(^"  fays  an  ingenious  Avriier,*  "  that 
Teeming  reludance  to  enter  into  the  married  ftate, 
obfervable  in  polite  countries,  is  the  work  of  art,  and 
not  of  nature.  The  hiftory  of  every  uncultivated 
people  amply  proves  it.  It  tells  us,  that  their  wgk 
-men  not  only  fpeak  with  freedom  the  lentiments  of 
their  hearts,  but  even  blufh  not  to  have  ihefe  fcnti- 
ments  made  as  public  as  pofiible." 

tn  Formofa,  however,  t'ey  differ  fo  much  from 
the  fimplicity  of  the  Canadians,  that  it  would  be 
reckoned  the  greateft  indecency  in  the  man  to  declare, 
or  in  the  woman  to  hear,  a  declaration  of  the  paifion 
of  love.  The  lover  is,  therefore,  obliged  to  depute 
his  mother,  fifter,  or  fome  female  relation ;  and  from 
any  of  thele  the  foft  tale  may  be  heard  without  the 
Isaft  offtince  to  delicacy. 

In  Spain,  the  women  had  formerly  no  voice  in 
difpofmg  of  themfelves  in  matrimony.  But  as  the 
empire  of  common  fenfe  began  to  extend  itfelf,  they 
began  to  claim  a  privilege,  at  leaft  of  being  confulted 
in  the  choice^ofthe  partners  of  their  livts.  Many 
fathers  and  guardians,  hurt  by  this  female  innovation j 

•  Dr,  Alexander* 


SKETCHES  OP  the  SEX,  171. 

and  puffed  up  with  Spanifh  pride,  fiill  infifted  on 
forcing  their  daughters  to  m:irry  according  to  their 
pleafure,  by  means  of  duennas,  locks,  hunger,  and 
even  icmetimes  ofpoifonand  dagqers^  But  ?.s  nature 
•will  revolt  againft  every  fpf.eies  of  ^ppreffion  and  in- 
juftice,  the  ladies  have  for  feme  time  begun  to  nlTert 
Iheir  own  rights.  The  authority  of  fathers  and- 
guardians  begins  to  decline,  and  lovers  find  themfelves 
obliged  to  apply  to  the  affefticns  of  the  fair,  as  well 
as  to  the  pride  and  avarice  of  their  relations* 

The  nrghily  mufical  ferenades  ofmiPireffes  by 
their  lovers  ere  fliil  in  ufe.  The  gallant  compofes 
fomelovefonncts,  ?s  expreilive  as  he  can,  not  only 
of  the  fiiuation  of  his  heart,  but  of  every  particular 
circumltance  between  him  and  the  lady,  net  forget- 
tint;  to  lard  t^^em  with  the  molt  extravagant  encomi- 
ums o^  her  beauty  and  merit*  I'hefe  he  lings  in  the 
Bight  below  her  window  accompanied  with  his  lute, 
or  fometimcs  with  a  whole  baud  of  mufic.  The  more 
piercip|jly  ccld  t  e  a'r,  the  more  the  lady's  heart  is 
luppol'ed  to  be  thawed  with  the  patient  fuffcrance  of 
her  lover,  who,  from  night  to  night,  frequently  con- 
tinues this  exercife  for  many  hcurs,  heaving  the  deep- 
eft  fighs,  and  cafting  the  moft  piteous  locks  towards 
the  window ;  at  which  if  his  goddefs  at  luft  deigns  to 
appear,  and  drops  him  a  curtley,.  he  is  fuperlatively 
paid  for  all  his  watching  ;  but  if  Cat  blelT^s  him  w  ith 
a  fmile,  he  is  ready  to  run  diftra<^ed. 

In  Italy  the  manner  of  addrcfling  the  ladies,  fo 
far  as  it  relates  to  I'erenading,  nearly  reli^mbles  that 
of  Sp-^in.  The  Italian,  however,  goes  a  ftep  farther 
than  the  Spaniard.  He  endeavors  to  blockade  the 
hcufe  w  here  his  fair  one  lives,  to  es  to  prevent  the 
entrance  of  any  rival.  If  l:e  marries  the  hdy  who 
coft  him  all  this  trouble  and  attendance,  he  fliuts 
her  up  for  life  :  If  not,  fhe  becomes  the  objeft  of 
his  eternal  hatred,  and  he  too  frequently  endea- 
vours to  revenge  by  poilbn  the  iUccels  0^*  his  liappicr 
lival. 


172  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX.~ 

In  one  circumftatice  relating  to  courtfliip,  the 
Italians  are  faid  to  be  particular.  They  protract  the 
time  of  it  as  long  as  poilible.  well  knowing  that,  even 
with  all  the  little  ills  sittending  it,  a  period  thus  era- 
ployed  is  one  of  the  fweeteil  of  human  life. 

A  Frencii  lover,  with  the  word  fentiment  perpe- 
fually  in  his  mouth,  feenis  by  every  rction  to  have 
excluded  it  from  his  heart.  lie  places  his  whofe  con- 
fidence in  his  exterior  au- and  appraninc?.  lie  drefles 
for  his  miureis,  dances  f.r  her,  flut' ers  conilantly 
•sibcut  her,  helps  her  to  Uiy  on  her  r  uge,  and  to  place 
her  patches.  He  attends  her  roi-iul  the  whole  circle 
of  anralements,  chatters  to  her  conftantly,  whlftles 
and  fmgs^  and  physti-efooV  with  her.  Whatever 
be  his  ftation,  evtry  thing  gaudy  and  glittering  with- 
n\  tne  fphere  of  it  is  called  ia  to  h's  aiiiitance,  par« 
rxularly  fpiendid  caiTia^e?.  and  tawdry  liveries  ;  l^ut 
if,  by  the  help  of  ail  tbefe,  he  cinEot  siake  an  lhi-. 
prefljixn  on  the  fair  one's  heart,  it  cods  him  ncti  ing 
but  a  few  Ihrugs  of  his  fhoulders,  two  or  three  filly 
exclamations,  and  z$  many  ftanzras  of  fonje  fr.tirical 
fong  againft  her ;  and,  as  it  is  impoffible  far  a  French- 
mas  to  Eve  without  an  ansuDur,  he  imniediately  he- 
lakes  hirarfelf  to  another. 

There  is  hardly  an>y  fuch  thing  among  people  of 
^yhion  as  courtftiip.  Matters  are  generally  ib  ordered 
by  p^r^nts  and  guardians  that  to  a  bride  and  bride- 
rrroom  v^e  day  of  marriage  is  often  the  fecond  time 
of  their  mJ^ting.  In  many  countries,  to  be  married 
in  this  manner  would  be  reckoned  the  greatefl  of 
misfortunes,  hi  France  it  is  little  regarded.  In  the 
ikfllionabte  world  few  people  are  greacer  ftrangers  to, 
of  more  indifferent  about  each  other,  thaa  hulband 
aiid  wife ;  and  any  appearance  of  fondnefs  between 
them,  or  their  being  feen  frequently  together,  would 
infallibly  make  them  forfeit  the  reputation  of  the 
ton,  and  be  laughed  at  by  all  polite  company.  On 
this  account,  nothing  is  more  common  than  to  be 
acqu^ted  with  a  lady  without  knowmg  her  hui- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  17 J 

brtnJ,  or  vifiting  the  hufband  without  ever  feeing 


his  \^  ife. 


=iiajB= 


CHAP.    XLIX. 

A  Vicv}  of  Matrimony  in  three  different  Lightu 

HEmarriagelifeis2lwaysaniDfipid5a vexatious, 

or  an  happy  condition.  The'firft  is,  when  two  people 
of  no  taftemeet  together,  uponfucha  ietilement  as 
has  been  thought  reafonable  by  parents  and  convey- 
ancers, from  an  exaft  vakiation  of  the  land  and  cafh 
of  both  parties.  In  this  cafe,  the  young  lady^s  per- 
fon  is  no  more  regarded  than  the  houfe  and  impraye- 
ments  in  purchaie  of  an  eftate  ;  but  (he  goes  with 
her  foriune,  rather  than  her  forti»ne  with  her.  Thefe 
make  up  the  crowd  or  vulgar  of  the  rich,  and  fill  up 
le  lumber  of  the  human  race,  without  beneficence 
)wards  thofe  below  them,  or  reipeft  towards  thofe 
.bove  them ;  and  lead  a  delpicable,  independent,  and 
uielefs  life,  without  fenfe  of  the  law^s  of  kindnefs,  , 
good-nature,  mutual  offices,  and  the  elegant  fatisfac- 
tions  which  flow  from  reafon  and  virtue. 

The  vexatious  life  arifes  from  a  conjunction  of 

•.v<>  people  of  quick  tafte  and  relentment,  p\it  togeth- 

r  for  reafons well  known  to  their  friends,  in  which 

"pc-cial  care  is  taken  to  avoid   (what  they  think  the 

•iiefof  evils)  poverty;  and  en fure  to  them  riches, 

arh  every  evil  befides.    Thele  good  people  live  in 

L   ccnitant  conftraint  before  company,  and  when 

one,  revile  each  other's  perfon  and  conduft.    In 

-    iny^  they  arc  in  purgatory;  when  by  them- 

,  in  hell. 

iht  happy  m.arrage  is, where  twoperfons meet, 

""A  vr;luntarily  make  choice  of  each  other,  without 

pally  regr.rding  or  regie <fling  the  circumdances 

rtune  or  beauty.    Thefe  may  Hill  love  iia  Ijpite 


174  SKETCHES  or  the  SEX. 

of  adverfity  or  ficknefs.  The  former  we  n^iay,  in 
foms  niealure,  defend  curfelves  from;  the  other  is 
the  common  lot  of  humanity.  Love  has  nothing  to 
do  with  riches  or  ftate.  Solitude,  v/uh  ti  e  perfon 
beloved,  has  a  pleafure,  evej^  in  a  u-omau'&  mindy 
beyond  fliow  or  pomp. 


^;S^-r==.-: 


CHAP.    L. 
bf  Betrothing  and  Marria'^t. 

AT.ve„.ea,l.peHod«V«.>,o.K.edi=a 
friendly  manner,  fell  upon  a  method  of  fecurirg  their 
children  to  each  other  by  what  is  called  in  the  facred 
writings  Betrothing.  This  was  agreeing  on  a  price 
to  be  paid  for  the  bride,  the  time  when  it  fhould  be 
paid,  and  when  (he  fliould  be  delivered  into  the  hands 
of  her  hulband. 

There  were,  according  to  the  Talmudift?,  three 
ways  of  betrothing.  The  firtt  by  a  written  con- 
traft.  The  fecond,  by  a  verbal  agreement,  accom- 
panied with  a  piece  of  money.  And  the  third,  I  y  the 
parties  coming  together,  and  living  as  hulband  and 
wife  ;  which  might  have  been  as  properly  called  mar- 
riage as  betrothing. 

The  written  contraft  was  in  the  following  m.an- 
■  ner— "  On  fuch  a  day,  month,  and  year,  A  the  fen 
of  B  has  faid  to  D  the  daughter  of  E,  be  then  my 
fpNOufe  according  to  the  law  of  Mofes  and  of  the  Ifra- 
elites  ;  and  I  will  gi^e  thee  as  a  dowry,  the  lum  of 
two  hundred  fuzim.s,  as  it  is  crdered  by  cur  law. 
And  thefaidD  hathprcmifedtobehisipcufeupon  the 
conditions  aforeikid,  which  the  faid  A  doth  promife 
to  perform  on  the  day  of  marriage.  AnA  to  this  the 
faid  A  doth  hereby  bind  himfelf  and  all  that  he  hath,. 
to  the  very  cloak  upon  his  back  ;  engap^es  himfelf  to 
love,  honor,  feed,  clothe,  and  proteft  her,  and  io 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.  175 

perform  all  that  is  generally  implied  in  cQntrafts  of 
marriage  in  favor  of  the  li'raelitilh  wives.'' 

The  verbal  agreement  was  made  in  the  prefenca 
ofafufticient  number  of  witnelles,  by  the  man  fay- 
ing to  the  womaD,  *^  Take  this  money  as  a  pledge 
that  at  fuch  a  time  I  will  take  thee  to  be  my  wife.'* 
A  woipan  who  was  thus  betrothed  or  bargained  for, 
was  alraofl  in  every  refpect  by  the  law  confidered  as 
already  married. 

Before  the  legiflation  of  Mofes  "  marriages 
among  the  Jew^ ,"  fay  the  Rabbles,  "  were  agreed 
upon  by  the  parents  and  relations  of  both  fides* 
When  this  was  done  the  bridegroom  was  introduced 
to  his  bride.  Pr^^ferts  are  mutually  exchanged,  the 
contraft  fignad  before  witneflcs,  and  the  bride,  hav- 
ing remained  feme  time  with  her  relations,  was  fent 
away  to  the  habitiuion  of  her  hufbaad,  in  the  night, 
with  finging,  dancing,  and  the  found  of  mufical  in* 
ftrum.ents.'* 

By  the  inftitufion  of  Mofes,  the  Rabbies  tell  us^ 
the  conirad  of  marriage  was  read  in  the  pretence  of, 
and  flgned  by,  at  leaft  ten  witneffes,  who  were  free, 
and  rf  age.  The  bride,  who  had  taken  care  to  bathe 
herfelf  the  night  before,  appeared  in  all  her  fplendor, 
but  veiled,  in  imitaiion  of  Rebecca,  who  veiled  her- 
felf when  file  came  in  light  of  Kaac.  She  was  then 
given  to  the  bridegroom  by  her  parents,  in  words  to 
this  purpofe  :  *''lVke  her  according  to  the  law  of 
Mofes  :'*  And  he  received  htr,  by  faying,  *'  1  take 
her  according  to  that  law.'*  home  blelSngs  were 
ti'en  pronounced  upon  the  young  couple,  both  by 
the  parents  and  the  reft  of  the  company. 

'J'he  bleflings  or  prayers  generally  run  in  this 
ftile:   '  rt  thou,  O  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth, 

who  I:  cd  man  in  thine  own  likenefs,  and  haft 

app^-iinted  woman  to  be  his  p?rtner  and  companion  t 
Blelled  art  thou,  who  ffllert  Zicn  with  joy  for  the 
multitude  of  her  children!  Blefied  art  thcu,  who 
fcndeft  gladnefs  to  the  bridegroom  ?nd  hb  hnd^l 


f7«  SRETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

who  haft  ordained  for  them  love,  joy,  tendernefsj 
peace  and  mutual  afteftion.  Be  pleafed  to  blefs,  not 
ocly  this  couple,  but  Judah  and  Jerufalem,  with 
longs  cf  joy,  and  praife  tor  the  joy  that  thou  giveft 
them,  by  the  multitude  of  their  fons  and  of  their 
daughters." 

After  the  virgins  had  fung  a  marriage  fong,  the 
coirpany  partook  of  a  repaft,  the  moft  magnificent 
the  parties  could  afford  ;  after  which  they  began  a 
dance,  the  men  round  the  bridegroom,  the  women 
round  the  bride.  They  pretended  that  this  dance 
was  of  divine  inftitution,  and  an  effential  part  of  the 
ceremony.  '1  he  bride  was  then  carried  to  the  nup- 
tial bed,,  and  the  bridegroom  left  in  the  chamber  with 
her.  The  company  ag?.in  returned  to  their  feafting 
and  rej;>icing ;  and  the  Rabbles  inform  us,  that  this 
feafting,  when  the  bride  was  a  widow,  lafted  only- 
three  days,  but  leven  if  (he  was  a  virgin. 

At  the  birth  of  a  fon,  the  father  planted  a  ce- 
dar ;  and  at  that  of ^  a  daughter,  he  planted  a  pine. 
Of  thefe  tresis  the  nuptial  bed  was  conltrufted,  when 
the  parties,  at  whofe  birth  they  were  planted,  entered 
into  the  married  {later 

The  Affyrians  had  a  court,  or  tribunal,  whofe 
only  bufinefs  was  to  difpofe  of  young  women  in  mar- 
riage, and  to  fee  the  1  iws  of  that  union  properly  ex- 
ecut(d.  V/hat  tbe(e  laws  were,  or  how  the  execu- 
tion of  them  was  enforced,  are  circumftances  which 
have  not  been  handed  down  to  us.  But  the  erefting 
a  court  folely  for  the  purpoie  oftaking  cognizance  of 
them,  fuggefts  an  idea  thai  they  were  many  and  va- 
rious. 

Among  ihe  Greeks,  the  mviltiplicity  of  male  and 
^  -  '-;iues  who  were  concerned  m  the  affairs  of 
'■:  rbe  invocations  and  ilicrifices,  cna  matrr- 
n,  a  very  tedious  affair.  Fortunate 
o..-.. .  ,v-. . ..  ,^,r  e:>t  joy  ;  and  the  moft  forti  inate  of  all 
others,  was  a  piir  of  turtles  feen  in  the  air,  as  thofe 
:li;xd$:  v/cr'  r-^^'       ^  ihe  trueft  emblems  of  conjugal 


SKETCHES  or  the  SEX.  i77 

love  and  fidelity.  If,  however,  one  of  tliem  was 
feen  done,  it  xntallibly  denoted  leparation,  and  all  the 
ills  attending  an  unhappy  marriage. 

On  the  we<lding  daV,  t^e  bride  and  bridegroom 
were  richly  drefTed,  and 'adorned  with  garlands  of 
herbs  and, flowers.  The  bride  \va» conducted  in  the 
evening  to  the  houfe  of  her  hulband  in  a  chariot, 
feated  between  the  hulband  and  one  of  his  rel-itions.^ 
When  (he  al'ghted  FrDm  the  chariot,  the  a.xle-tree  of 
it  was  burnt,  to  lic;nify  that  there  wt.s  nomeihod  left 
for  her  to  return  S:Kk.  As  fern  as  the  youn^^  couple 
entered  the  houfe,  figs  and  ether  fruits  v/t  re  thrown 
upcn  iheir  heads  to  denote  plenty ;  and  a  inraptiions 
entertainment  was  ready  fcr  them  to  partake  of,  to 
which  ?.II  the  reluicns  on  bo:h  fides  were  invited. 

The  bride  wasii'jht rd  to  bed  by  a  number  of 
torches,  according  to  her  qu  iky  ;  and  the  cor.pany 
returned  in  the  raorninK,  to  (alute  the  new  married 
couple,  and  to  firg  efjthalamia  zx  the  door  of  their 
bed-chamber. 

Epithhmia  were  pi^rriage  fongs,  anciently  fung 
in  praife  of  the  bride  or  bridegroom,  wifhing  them 
happinefs,  prcfpcrtv,  and  a  numerous  ilTue. 

Among  the  Romans  there  were  three  diiferent 
kinds  of  marriage.  The  cerenK>ny  of  the  firft  con- 
fifled  in  the  yonr.g  couple  eating  a  cake  together, 
made  only  of  wheat,  faU,  and  watei*.  The  I'econd 
kind  was  celebrated  by  the  parties  folemnly  pledging 
their  faith  to  each  othef,  by  giving  and  recei\nng  a 
piece  of  money.  This  was  the  moft  common  way  of 
marryin;;  among  the  Romans,  it  continued  in  ufe, 
evfn  after  they  became  Chrifliaos.  When  writings 
were  introduced  to  teftify  that  a  m.an  and  a  woma;i 
had  become  hufband  and  wife,  and  alfo,  that  the 
hvilband  had  fettled  a  dower  upon  his  bride,  thefe 
writings  were  called  Tabula  Dctaks  (c'owry  tables  ;) 
and  hence,  perhaps  the  words  in  our  marriage  cere- 
monvV'*!  thee  endow.*' 

The  third  kind  of  marriage  was,  when  ^  niaa 


178  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

and  woman,  having  cohabited  for  fome  time  and  had 
children,  found  it  expedient  to  continue  together.  In 
this  cafe,  if  they  made  up  the  matter  between  them- 
felves,  it  became  a  valid  marriage,  and  the  children 
were  confidered  as  legitimate. 

Something  fimihr  to  this  is  the  prefent  cudom  ia 
Scotland.  There,  if  a  man  live  with,  and  have  chil- 
dren by  a  woman,  though  he  do  nor  marry  her  till  he 
be  upon  his  deat; -bed,  iiil  the  children  are  thereby 
legi'-imated,  and  become  entitleJ  to  the  honors  and 
eftates  of  their  father.  The  cafe  is  the  fame  in  Hoi- 
laud,  and  Ibme  p?Tts  of  Germany ;  with  this  d:iTer- 
ence  only,  that  ail  the  children  to  be  legitimated  muft 
appear  with  the  fatl  er  and  mother  in  church,  at  the 
ceremony  of  their  marriage. 


5^^i:sfe 


CHAP.    LI. 
On  the  Choice  of  a  Hujloiti, 


J^SSISTme,yeNine, 

While  the  youth  I  define, 
With  whom  I  in  wedlock  would  clafs  j 

And  ye  blooming  fair, 

Lend  a  lilhening  ear. 
To  approve  of  the  rnan  as  you  pafs. 

Not  the  changeable  fry 
Who  love,  norkncw  why. 

But  follow  bedupM  by  their  paiTions : 
,  Such  votaries  as  thefe 
Are  like  waves  of  the  fei's, 

And  fteer'd  by  thtir  own  inclination. 

The  hectoring  blade 
How  unfit  for  the  maid. 
Where  meeknefs  and  modelly  reigas! 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  179 

Such  a  thundering  Bull}'- 
ril  fpeak  againit  truly. 
Whatever  I  get  for  my  pain?. 

Not  the  dogmatic  elf, 

Whale  great  all  is  himfelf, 
Whofe  abne  ipfe  dixit  is  law : 

What  a  figure  he'll  m^ke, 

How  like  Monius  he'll' fpeak 
With  lueeering  burlefque,  a  pfliaw  !  pfhaw  ! 

Not  the  covetous  wretch 

Whofe  heart's  at  full  firetch 
To  gain  an  inordinate  treafure ; 

Him  leave  with  the  re'>, 

And  fuch  mortals  deteft. 
Who  facrifice  life  without  meafure. 

^The  fluttering  fop, 

Hv)w  empty  t\h  top  ! 
Nay  but  fome  call  him  coxcomb,  I  trow  ; 

But  'tis  lofing  your  time, 

lie's  not  worth  half  a  rhyme, 
Let  the  fag  ends  of  prole  bind  his  brow. 

The  euttling  fct. 

What  a  conduit  his  throat ! 
How  beaftly  and  vicious  his  life ! 

Where  drunkr.rds  prevail. 

Whole  families  feel, 
Much  more  an  aftettionate  wife. 

One  charafter  yet, 

1  with  forrow  rcpct, 
And  O  !  tnai  the  number  were  lefs  ; 

*  lis  the  blafphemous  <^ew : 

Wh-^.t  a  pattern  they'll  Ihew 
To  their  haplefs  and  innocent  race ! 

Tet  wifdom  then  (hine 
la  the  youth  that  is  mine, 


1 86  SIvETCHES  OF  THE  SEX. 

Whllft  virtue  his  foot(teps  imprefs ; 

Such  I'd  chocn^  for  my  mate. 

Whether  fooner  or  hte: 
Teli  me,  Ladies,  wrat  thiak  you  of  this  ? 

"The  chief  pMnt  to  be  tegarJed,"  fays  Lady 
Pennington  in  her  Advice  to  her  Daughters,  **  in 
the  choice  of  a  comp Anion  for  life,  is  a  really  virtuous 
principle— an  unaffedVed  goodnel's  of  heart.  With- 
out  this,  you  will  be  continually  fliocked  by  inde- 
cency, and  pain^J  by  impiety.  So  numerous^  have 
been  the  unhappy  victims  to  the  ridiculous  opinion, 
a,  reformed  libertine  makes  the  bcjl  hupand — that,  did  not 
experience  daily  evince  the  contrary,  one  would  be- 
lieve it  imp  ifiDle  for  a  girl  who  has  a  tolerable  de- 
gree of  common  under ftanding,  to  be  made  the  dupe 
of  fo  erroneous  a  pofition,  which  has  not  the  leaft 
fhadow  of  reafon  for  its  foundation,  aud  which  a 
fmall  fliare  of  observation  will  prove  to  be  falfe  in 
faft.  A  man  who  has  been  long  con verfant  with 
the  worft  fort  of  women,  is  very  apt  to  coot  raft  a 
bad  opinion  of,  and  a  contempt  for,  the  fex  in  gen- 
eral. Incapable  of  efteeitiing  any,  he  is  fufpicious  of 
all ;  jeslous  without  caufe,  angry  without  provoca- 
tion, his  own  dlfturbed  imagination  4$  a  continu- 
ed fource  of  ill-humour.  To  this  is  frequemly  joined 
a  bad  habit  of  body,  the  natural  ccnfequence  of  an 
irregular  life,  whieh  gives  an  additional  fournefs  to 
the  temper.  What  rational  profpeft  of  happinefs  can 
there  be  with  fuch  a  companion  ?  And,  that  this  is 
the  general  character  of  tbofe  who  are  called  reform* 
^^ra^t'j,  obfervation  will  certify.  But,  admit  there 
may  be  fbme  exceptions,  it  is  a  hazard,  upon  which 
no  confiderate  woman  would  venture  the  peace  of 
her  whole  future  life.  The  vanity  of  thole  g^irls  who 
believe  themfelves  capable  of  working  miracles  of 
this  kind,  and  who  give  up  their  perfons  to  men  of 
libertine  principles,  upon  the  wild  expeftation  of  re- 
claiming them,  juftiy  dcifcrves  the  dilappoiutment 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.  iSi 

which  it  will  generally  meet  A\ith ;  for,  believe  me,  a 
wife  is,  of  all  peribns,  thejeaft  likely  to  fucceed  ia 
fach  an  attempt. — Be  it  your  care  to  iiiri  that  virtue 
in  a  lover  which  you  muft  never  hope  to  form  in  a 
hnlband.  Good  (enfe,  and  good  nature,  are  almoft 
equally  requifite.  If  the  former  is  wanting,  it  will 
be  next  to  an  impcfribility  for  you  to  elleera  the  per- 
foD,  of  whole  behaviour  you  mav  have  caufe  to  be 
sfhamed.  Mutual  efleem  is  as  effential  to  happineis 
in  the  married  ftate,  as  mutual  affection.  Without 
the  latter,  every  day  will  bring  with  it  feme  frefh 
caufe  of  vexation,  until  repeated  quarrels  produce  a 
coldnefs,  \^f!-.ich  will  fettle  into  an  irreconcileable  aver- 
fion,  and  you  will  become,  not  only  erch  other's 
torment,  but  the  ohjedi  of  contempt  to  your  family, 
and  to  year  acquaintance. 

**  Fhi.s  quality  of  p:ood  nature  is,  of  all  othen^, 
the  mofl:  d:lTicult  to  be  afcerrained,  on  account  of  the 
general  mifiake  of  f  lending  it  with  good-humor,  as 
if  they  were  in  themfelves  the  fame ;  whereas,  in  fact, 
no  two  principles  ot  aftion  are  more  eflentially  differ- 
ent. But  this  may  require  fome  explanation — By 
good-nature,  I  mean  that  true  benevolence,  which 
partakes  in  the  felicity  of  all  mankind,  which  promotes 
the  felicity  of  every  icdividual  within  the  reach  of  its 
ability,  v/hich  relieves  the  diftrefi-d,  cmfcrtsthe 
aflliLted,  difiufes  1;Uirings,  and  communicates  hi^ppi- 
nefs,  far  as  its  fphcre  of  a6Hon  can  extend  ;  and 
which,  in  the  private  fcenes  of  life,  will  fhine  confpic- 
uous  in  the  dutiful  fon,  in  the  afIc6tionate  hulband, 
the  indulgent  father,  the  faithful  friend,  and  in  the 
compalhonate  malbr  both  to  man  and  be  aft.  Good- 
humour,  on  the  o«ht  r  hand,  is  nothing  more  than  a 
cheerful,  pleaftng  deporiment,  arilin^  either  from  a 
natural  gaiety  of  mind,  or  from  an  aifecticn  of  popu- 
lariM/,  j^^intrd  to  ?n  affr^bility  of  behavior,  the  lefult 
<■'  rom  a  ready  compliance  with 

ti  ;ni'.  'fh^r  l^Vdof  meregocd- 

humc;  •:  qualiiy.  'h  is 


''^2  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

frequently  miftaken  for,  and  complimented  with  the 
{bperior  name  of  real  good  nature.  A  man,  by  this 
Ipecious  appearance,  has  often  acquired  that  appella- 
tion who,  in  all  the  aftions  of  his  private  life,  has 
been  a  morofe,  cruel,  revengeful,  fuUen,  haughty  ty- 
rant.  Let  them  put  on  the  cap,  v/hofe  teniples  lit 
the  galUng  wreath ! 

"  A  man  of  a  truly  benevolent  difpofition,  and 
formed  to  promote  the  happinefs  of  all  around  him, 
may  fometimes,  perhaps,  from  an  ill  habit  of  body, 
an  accidental  vexation,  or  from  a  commendable  open- 
nefs  of  heart,  above  the  meannefs  of  difguife,  be 
guilty  of  little  Tallies  of  peevifhnefs,  or  of  ill-humour, 
which,  carrying  the  appearance  of  ill-nature,  may  be 
nnjuftly  tr.ought  to  proceed  from  it,  by  perlbns  who 
are  unacquainted  with  his  true  character,  and  who 
take  ill-humour  and  ilUnature  to  be  fynonymous 
terms,  though  in  reality  they  bear  not  the  leaft  anal- 
ogy to  each  other.  In  order  to  the  forming  a  right 
judgment,  it  is  abfolutely  neceffary  to  oblerve  this 
diftinftion,  which  will  eff equally  fecure  you  from  the 
dangerous  error  of  taking  the  fhadovv  for  the  fub- 
ftance,  an  irretrievable  miftake,  pregnant  with  in- 
numerable confequent  evils ! 

"  From  what  has  been  faid,  it  plainly  appears, 
that  the  criterion  of  this  amiable  virtue  is  not  to  be 
taken  from  the  general  opinion  ;  mere  good-humour 
being,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  fumcient  in  this 
particular,  to  eftablifh  the  public  voice  in  favor  of  a 
man  utterly  devoid  of  every  humane  and  benevolent 
aft'eftion  of  heart.  It  is  only  from  the  lefs  confpicu- 
ous  fcenes  of  life,  the  m.ore  retired  fphere  of  aftion, 
from  the  artleCs  tenor  of  doraeftic  conduft,  that  the 
real  charafler  can,  with  any  certainty  be  drawn. 
Thefe,  undifguifed,  procliiim  the  man.  But,  as  they 
fhun  the  glare  of  light,  nor  court  the  noife  of  popular 
appl  Aufe,  they  pais  unnoticed,  and  are  feldom  known 
till  afte):.an  intimate  acquaintance.  The  beft  method* 
therefore,  to  avoid  the  deceplioo  in  this  cafe,  i$  to 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  i8^^ 

lav  no  flrefs  on  outward  appeirances,  which  are  too 
often  fallacious,  but  to  take  the  rule  of  judging  from 
the  fimple  unpjiilhed  fentiments  of  thole  whole  de- 
pendent conneclions  give  them  unde:iiable  certainty  ; 
who  not  only  fee,  but  who  hourly  feel,  the  good  or 
badelTeft  of  that  dilpo!ition,  to  which  they  are  fub- 
jede !.  By  this,  I  mean,  that  if  a  man  is  equally  ref- 
pecfted,  eileemed,  and  beloved  by  his  dependants  and 
and  doraeftics,  you  may  juftly  conclude,  he  has  that 
true  good  nature,  that  real  benevolenc?,  which  de- 
I'ghts  in  commuiicating  felicity,  and  enjoys  the  fatif* 
faftion  it  difi'ufes.  But  it'  by  thefe  he  is  defpifed  and 
hated,  ferved  merely  from  a  principle  of  fear,  devoid 
of  aifeftion,  which  'is  ever  eaiily  difcoverable,  what- 
ever may  be  his  public  characUr,  however ^  favoura- 
ble the  general  opinion,  be  allured,  that  his  difpofi- 
tion  is  iuch  as  can  never  be  produftive  of  domeltic 
happiuefs.  I  have  b  en  the  m^re  particular  on  this 
head,  as  it  is  one  of  the  moft  ejfential  qualilications 
to  be  regarded^  and  of  all  others  the  moll  Uable  to 
be  mifiaken. 

"  Never  be  prevailed  with,  m}^  dear,  to  give  your 
hand  to  a  perfon  defcftive  in  thefe  material  points. 
Secure  of  virtue,  of  good-nature,  and  underilanding, 
in  a  hulband,  you  may  be  fecure  of  happiuefs. 
Without  the  two  former  itis  unatiaina^h.  Without 
the  latter  in  a  t  Jerabis  degree,  it  mufl  b^  very  im- 
perfeft. 

*^  Remember,  however,  that  infailibiliry  is  not 
the  proper; y  of  man,  or  ytu  may  eutall  diiappoint- 
meiit  on  yourfelf,  by  expeftin^  what  is  never  to  b::^ 
found.  'I'he  belt  men  are  1  ^metimes  inconiiflenr 
with  themfelves.  They  are  liable  to  be  hurried,  by 
fuidcn  fcarts  of  p^.iTion,  into  exprcilions  and  actions, 
which  their  cooUr  reafon  will  condemn.  They  may 
have  Tome  oddities  of  behavior,  and  fome  peculiari- 
ties of  teiflper.  They  may  be  iuhjeft  to  accidental 
ill-humour,  or  to  whimfical  complaints.  IMemifhcij 
of  this  kind  often  ihade  the  brightell  chara^Ur  \  but 


184  :.:.;. rCHES  OF  ri-\E  SEX. 

they  ;ire  never  dcflruftive  of  mulual  felicity^  unlefi 
%%'hen  they  are  iriade  lb  by  an  improper  relentment. 
or  by  an  iil-judg  d  oppofrioD.  When  cooled,  and 
in  his  uiU:.!  temper,  the  man  of  uuderitanding,  if  he 
has  been  wrcng,  wiil  fuggefl  to  hiinfclf  all  tnat  could 
be  urged  againii:  him.  The  man  of  good-nature  will, 
unupbraided,  cv/n  his  error.  Immediate  contradic- 
tion is,  therefore,  wholly  unferviceable,  and  highly 
Imprudeiu  ;  an  after  repetition  is  equally  unneceiiary 
:,ad  injudicious.  Any  peculiarities  in  the  temper  or 
beh::vior  ought  to  be  properly  reprefented  in  the  ten- 
derell  and  in  the  nioit  friendly  manner.  If  the  re- 
pre-e;uation  cf  thena  is  made  diicreetly,  it  will  gener- 
ally be  weil  taken.  But,  if  they  areVo  habitual  a^ 
not  eafily  to  be  altered,  ftrike  not  too  often  upon  the 
unharmonious  firing .  R  ather  let  them  pafs  as  unobferv- 
ed.  Such  a  cheerful  compliance  will  better  cement 
your  union  ^  and  they  m-ay  be  made  eafy  to  ycurfclf,^ 
by  reiiefting  on  the  iuperior  good  qualities  by  which 
th;;fe  trilling  faults  are  fo  greatly  overbalanced. 

"  You  muil:  remember,  ray  dear,  thele  rules  are 
laid  down  on  the  fuppofition  of  your  being  united  to 
a  pjrfon  who  polleiies  the  three  quaffications  for 
happinefs  before  mentioned.  In  this  cafe  no  farther 
direction  is  neceilary,  but  that  you  llriftly  perform 
the  duty  cf  a  wife,  namely,  to  lovc%  to  honor,  and 
obey.  The  two  firll  articles  are  a  tribute  fo  indif- 
penfably  due  to  merits  that  they  muft  be  paid  by  //z- 
clinatirM—'dnd  they  naturally  lead  to  the  performarxe 
cf  the  lalt,  which  will  net  only  be  an  eafy,  but  r 
pleafmg  talk,  fmce  nothing  can  ever  be  enjoined  by 
inch  a  perfon  that  is  in  itfelf  improper,  and  a  few 
things  will,  that  can,  with  any  reafbn,  be  difagreeabb 
to  you. 

"  The  being  united  to  a  man  of  irreligious  prin* 
ciples,  makes  it  impoffible  to  difcharge  a  great  part  of 
the  proper  duty  of  a  wife.  To  name  but  one  in-^ 
ftance,  obedience  will  be  rendered  imprafticabk,  by 
frequent  injunftions  icconfifteut  with,  and  contrary 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  185. 

(0,  the  higher  obligalions  of  monJiry.  Xhis  ^s  not  a 
fuppofition,  but  is  a  certainty  foufided  upon  tafts,- 
which  1  have  too  often  feen  and  can  at  tele.  Where 
this  happens^  the  reafons  for  non-comphance  ought 
to  be  ottered  in  a  plain,  Itrone,  good-natured  man- 
ner»  There  is  at  leaft  the  chance  of  fuccefs  from  be- 
ing heard^  But  Ihould  thofe  reafors  be  rejeded,  or 
'  -  hearing  them  refufed,  and  filence  on  the  iubjefl: 
ijoined,  which  is  mod  probable,  few  people  caring 
to  hear  what  they  know  to  be  right,  when  they  are 
determined  not  to  be  convinced  by  it — obey  the  in- 
junction, and  urge  not  the  argument  farther.  Keep, 
however,  Iteady  to  your  principles,  and  fuiler  neither 
perfuafion  nor  threats  to  prevail  on  you  to  aft  con- 
trary to  them.  All  commands  repugnant  to  the  laws 
of  chriftianiiy,  it  is  your  indifpeniable  duty  to  dilb- 
bey.  All  rcquefls  that  are  inconlillent  with  prudence, 
or  incompatible  with  the  rank  and  charafter  which 
you  ought  to  maintain  in  life,  it  is  your  intereft  to- 
refufe.  A  compliance  with  the  former  would  be 
criminal,  a  confent  to  the  latter  highly  indifcreet  ; 
and  it  might  thereby  fubjecl  you  to  general  cenfure. 
For  a  man,  capable  of  requiring,  from  his  wife,  what 
he  knows  to  be  in  itfelf  wrong,  is  equally  capable  of 
throwing  the  whole  blame  of  liich  mifconduft  on  her,i 
and  of  afterwards  upbraiding  her  for  a  behaviour,  to 
which  he  will,  upon  the  fame  principle,  difown  that 
he  has  been  acceflary.  Many  fm.iiar  infiances  have 
come  \^dthin  the  compafs  of  m.y  own  obfervation.  In 
things  of  a  lefs  material  nature,  that  are  neither  crim- 
iual  in  themfelves,  nor  percicicus  in  their  coni'equen- 
ces,  always  ac<iuiefce,  if  infifted  on,  however  difa- 
f^reeable  they  may  be  to  your  own  temper  and  incli- 
*ioQ.  Such  a  ccirn^liance  will  evidently  prove,  that 
.our  refufal,  in  the  other  cafes,  proceeds  not  from  a 
fpirit  of  contradiftion,  but  m.erely  from  a  juft  regard 
to  ^  '  erior  duty  which  can  never  be  in  fringe  J 
V  -  .aity. 

r  A^  the  want  of  underflanding  is  by  no  art  to 


m  SKFrCHES  OF  THE  SEX. 

be  concealed,  by  no  addrefs  to  be  difgulfed,  it  mi^ 
be  fappofea  impafTible  for  a  woman  of  fenle  to  unite 
herielf  to  a  peribn  whofe  deJ^id^in  this  inftauce,  mult 
render  that  fort  of  rational  fociety,  which  confticutes 
the  chief  happinefs  of  fuch  an  union,  impoflible.  Yet 
here,  how  often  has  the  weaknefs  of  female  judgment 
been  COD fpicunus!  The  advantages  of  great  fuperiori- 
ty  in  rank  or  fortune  have  frequently  proved  fo  irre- 
llftible  a  temptation,  as,  in  opinion,  to  outweigh,  not 
only  the  folly,  but  even  the  vices  of  its  pcflelfor — a, 
grand  miftake,  ever  tacitly  aGkoowledgeJ  by  a  fubfe- 
quent  repentance,  when  the  expected  pleafures  of  af- 
fiuence,  equipage,  and  all  the  glittering  pcmp  of  ufe- 
lefs  pageantry,  have  been  experimentally  found  in- 
lufficient  to  make  amends  for  the  want  of  that  con- 
ftant  fatiefaftion  which  refults-  from  the  fecial  joy  of 
converfing  with  a  reafonable  friend  !• . 

*'  But  however  weak  this  motive  muft  be  ac- 
knowledged, it  is  more  excufiible  tl:an  another,  which 5- 
1  fear,  has  fometimes  had  an  equal  influence  on  the 
miad — I  mean  ib  great  a  love  of  fway,  as  to  induce 
her  to  give  the  preference  to  a  perfon  of  weak  intel- 
ieftuals J  in  hopes  of  holding,  uncontrouled,  the  reins 
of  government.  The  expectation  is,  in  faft,  ill- 
grounded,,  Obftinaey  and  pride  are  generally  the 
companions  of  folly.  The  fillieft  people  are  often 
the  molt  tenacious  of  their  opinions^  and,  coniequent* 
ly,  tiie  hardett  of  all  others  to  be  managed.  But,. 
;jLdmit  the  contrary,  the  principle  is  in  itfelf  bad.  It 
tends  to  invert  the  order  of  nature^  and  to  counter- 
ad  the  defign  of  Providence. 

"A  woman  can  never  be  feen  in  a  more  ridicul- 
ous light  than  whea  fhe  appears  to  govern  her  Jiuf- 
band.  If,  unfortunately,  the  iliperiority  of  under- 
Handing  is  on  her  fide^  the  apparent  confciQufnefs  of 
that  fuperiority  betrays  a  weaknefs,  that  renders  her 
contemptible  in  the  fght  of  every  confiderate  perfon, 
and  it  may,  very  probably,  fix  in  his  mind  a  diflike 
ntver  to,  be  eradicated.    In  fuch  a-  c:;fe3  if  it  Ihvuid 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  18.7 

ever  be  your  own,  remember  that  feme  degree  of 
dilliiTiuliition  is  comraeudabie,  lb  for  as  to  let  your 
huiband's  dcfeds  appear  uaobferved.  When  he 
judges  wrong,  never  lEitly  central ift,  but  lead  him 
infenfibly  into  another  opinion,  in  fo  difcreet  a  man- 
ner, that  it  may  leem  entirely  his  own,  and  let  the 
whole  credit  of  every  prudent  determination  rett  on 
hira,  witnout  indulging  the  tbolilh  vanity  of  claiming 
any  merit  to  yourfelf.  Thus  a  perlon  of  but  an  in- 
different capacity,  may  be  fo  aifilted,  as,  in  many  in- 
fiances,  to  ihine  with  borrowed  lufire,  fearce  diitin* 
guifhable  from  the  native,  and  by  degrees  h^  may  be 
brought  into  a  kind  of  mechanical  method  of  acting, 
properly,  in  all  the  common  occurrences  of  life.  Odd 
as  this  pofition  may  feem,  it  is  founded  in  fact^  I 
have  feen  the  method  fuccefsfully  praftifed  by  more 
;han  one  perfon,  where  a  weak  mind,  on  the  govern* 
ed  fide,  has  been  fo  prudently  fet  off  as  to  appear  the 
fole  diredcr ;  like  the  ilatue  of  the  Delphic  god, 
which  was  thought  to  give  forth  its  own  oracles^ 
whilfl  the  hu  iible  prieft,  who  lent  his  voice,  was  by 
the  (hrine  concealed,  nor  fought  a  higher  glory  than 
a  fupp  :i'ed  obedience  to  the  power  he  would  be 
thought  to  ferve/' 


=tf<a^ 


I 


CHAP.  LIL 

Mrs,  Piozzis  Advke  io  a  Nciu  Married  Alan, 


__  RECEIVED  the  news  of  your  marriage  with 
iufiuite  defgiit,  and  hope  that  the  fmcerity  with 
which  I  \vi(h  you  happinefs,  may  excule  the  lioerty  I 
take  in  giving  you  a  few  rules,  whereby  more  cer- 
tainly tc5  obtain  it.  I  fee  you  fmilc  at  my  wrong- 
headed  kindnefs, and,  refleaing  on  the  charmsof  your 
bride,  cry^  out  in  a  rapture,  that  you  are  happy 
fcLoufeh  without  i»y  rules*    1  know  ycu  iu-e.    But 


i38  SKETCHES  or  the  SEX. 

after  one  of  the  fcny  ye:rs,  v.^hich  I  hope  you  will' 
paii  ple?.ricgiy  together,  are  over,  this  letter  may  come 
in  turn,  and  rules  for  lelicity  may  not  be  fcimd  un- 
necelTciry,  h  jv/ever  iov^iC  of  them  may  appear  im- 
pracficable. 

Could  that  kind  of  love  bekept  aiive  through  the 
marnage  fcate,  which  m.ikes"  the  charm  of  a  fmgle 
one,  the  fovereign  good  w.^uld  no  longer  be  fought 
for  ;  in  the  union  of  two  faithful  lovers  it  would  ba 
foimd :  but  reaibn  (hews  us  that  this  is  impoffible, 
and  experience  informs  us  that  it  never  was  fo;  we 
nuiit  preferve  it  as  long,  and  fupply  it  as  happily  as- 
we  can. 

When  your  prefent  violence  of  pafTion  fubfideSy. 
however,  and  a  more  cool  and  tranquil  afteftion  takes 
its  place,  be  not  hafty  to  cenfure  yourfelf  as  iadifler- 
ent,  or  to  lament  yourfelf  as  unhappy ;  you  have  lolk 
that  only  which  it  was  impofhble  to  retain,  and  it 
were  gracelefs  amid  the  pleafures  of  a  profperous 
fummer  to  regret  the  bbifoms  of  a  tranlient  Ipring^ 
Neither  unwarily  condemn  your  bride*s  infipidity 
till  you  have  recollefted  that  no  object  however  fub^ 
lime,  DO  founds  however  charming,  can  continue  to 
tranfport  us  with  delight  wnen  they  no  longer  llrike 
us  with  novelty.  Thelkill  to  renovate  the  powers  of 
pleafiug  are  laid  indeed  to  be  poileiTed  by  fome  wo- 
men in  an  eminent  degree ;  but  the  artifices  of  matu- 
riiy  are  feldom  feen  to  adorn  the  innocence  of  you*  h: 
you  have  made  your  choice,  and  ought  to  approve  it* 

Satiety  fellows  quickly  upon  the  heels  of  pcffff- 
fioti;  and  to  be  happy,  we  muft  always  have  fome- 
thing  in  view.  Tne  perfon  of  your  lady  is  already 
all  your  own,  and  will  not  grow  more  pleafmg  in^ 
your  eyes  I  doubt,  though  the  reft  of  your  fex  will 
think  her  handfome  for  thefe  dozen  of  years.  Turn 
therefore  all  your  attention  to  her  mind,  which  will 
daily  grow  brighter  by  polifhing.  Study  fome  eafy 
fcience  together,  and  acquire  a  fimilarity  of  tattes 
wbiJe  ycu  epjoy  a  commuaity  of  pleafures*    You 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  it9 

wiil  by  this  means  have  m?.ny  images  in  commoa^ 
and  be  freed  from  the  ceceltity  of  ieparating  to  had 
amufement.  Nothing  is  fo  dangerous  to  wedded 
love  as  the  poflibility  of  either  being  happy  out  pf 
thecorapany  of  the  ether:  eadeavour  therefore  to  ce- 
ment the  prefent  intimacy  on  every  fide  j  let  your 
wife  never  be  kept  ignorant  of  your  income,  y:  ur  ex- 
pences,  your  fri^ndihips,  cr  aver(ions  ;  let  her  know 
your  very  faults,  but  make  them  amiable  by  your 
virtues  ;  confi  !er  all  concealment  as  a  breach  of  fideli- 
ty ;  let  her  never  have  any  thirg  to  find  out  in  your 
chararter ;  a::d  remember,  thii  from  the  moment 
one  of  the  partners  turns  fpyupn  the  other,  they 
have  commcjuced  a  (late  of  hbfliiity. 

Seek  njt  for  happinefs  in  fmgularity ;  and  dread 
a  refinement  of  wifdora  as  a  deviation  into  folly* 
Liften  not  to  thofe  fages  who  advife  you  always  to 
fcorn  the  counlel  of  a  woman,  and  if  you  comply 
with  her  requelts  pronounce  you  to  be  wife-ridden. 
Tnink  not  any  privation,  except  of  pofitive  evil,  an  ex- 
celbnce,  and  do  not  congratulate  yourfelf  that  your 
wife  is  net  a  learned  lady,  that  fhe  never  touches  a 
-  id,  or  is  wholly  ignorant  how  to  make  a  pudding. 
:trds,  cookery,  and  learning,  are  all  ^ocd  in  their 
places,  and  may  all  be  ufed  with  advantage. 

With  regard  to  expence,  I  can  only  rbferve, 
that  the  money  laid  out  in  the  purchafe  of  diilioftion 
is  feldom  cr  erer  profitably  empl  )yed.  We  live  in 
an  age  when  fplendid  furniture  and  glitteri::;g  equipage 
are  grown  too  common  to  catch  ti'e  notice  of  the 
raeaned  fpeftator ;  and  for  the  greater  ones,  they  on- 
ly regard  our  walteful  folly  with  fileit  conteir.pt,  or 
open  indignation. — This  may  pcrliaps  beadifphafaig 
reflection,  but  tiie  following  confideration  ought  to 
make  am^nd?.  The  age  we  live  in  pay?,  I  think,  pe- 
•  ntion  to  the  higher  dillinclious  of  wit, 
.-  ,anJ  virtu?,  towhich  Wemay  more  fafely, 
more  cheaply,  and  more  honorably  afpire,  1  he  gid- 
dy flirt  of  qualify  frets  at  the  rcfpecl  fiis  f;es  pAid 


190  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

toLady  Edgecumbe,  and  thegay  dunce  fits  pin'ng  for 
a  partner, 'while  Jones  the  Orientalift  leads  up  the  ball. 

I  fdid  that  the  perfon  of  your  lady  would  not 
grow  more  pleating  to  you  ;  but  pray  let  her  never 
iufpeft  that  it  grows  lels  fo  :  that  a  woman  will  par- 
don an  affront  to  her  underftanding  much  fooner 
than  one  to  her  peribn,  is  well  known;  nor  will  any 
of  us  contradift  the  aflcrtion.  AU^our  attainments, 
all  our  arts,  are  employed  to  gain  and  keep  the  heart 
of  man :  and  what  mortification  can  exceed  tlie  difap- 
pointment,  if  the  end  be  not  obtained?  Th^re  is  no 
reproof  however  pointed,  no  puniiliment  however 
fevere,  that  a  woman  of  ip'.rit  will  not  prefer  to  ne- 
^left  ;  andif  fhe  can  endure  it  without  complaint, 
it  only  proves  that  (he  means  to  m/ake  herfelf  amends 
by  the  attention  of  others  for  the  flights  cf  her  huf- 
band.  For  thi?,and  for  every  realoji,  it  behoves  a 
married  man  not  to  let  his  polrtenefs  fail,  though  his 
ardour  may  abate,  but  to  retain  at  leaft  that  genend 
civility  towards  his  own  lady  which  he  is  fo  williiig 
to  pay  to  every  other,  and  net  fhew  a  wife  of  eigh- 
teen or  twenty  years  old,  that  every  man  in  compa- 
ny can  treat  her  with  more  complaifance  than  he, 
who  fo  often  vowed  to  her  eternal  fondnefs. 

It  is  not  my  opinion  that  a  young  woman  fiioul  J 
be  indulged  in  e^ery  wild  wifh  of  her  gay  heart  or 
giddy  head  ;  but  contradi6lion  mny  be  Ibftcned  by 
Gomeftic  kindnefs,  and  quiet  pleafures  fubftituted  in 
the  place  of  noify  ones.  Public  amufements  are  not 
indeed  fo  expentive  as  is  fometimes  iraagi  ed,  but 
they  tend  to  alienate  the  minds  of  married  people 
from  each  other.  A  well  chofen  fociety  of  friends 
and  acquaintance,  more  emi.nent  for  virtue  and  good 
fenfe  than  for  gaiety  and  fplendor,  where  the  con- 
verfation  of  the  day  may  afford  comment  for  the 
evening,  feems  the  molt  rational  pleafure  this  great 
town  can  allord. 

That  your  own  fup^riority   fiioul^  always  t>e 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  191 

fisen,  but  never  felt,  feeais  an  excellent  general  rule. 
A  wife  Ihoul J  outfhiue  her  hulband  in  nothing,  not 
even  in  her  drtfs. — If  fhe  happens  to  have  a  tatte  for 
the  trifling  diftinftiDn  that  fi;iery  can  confer,  fuffer 
her  not  for  a  moment  to  fancy ;,  when  (he  appears  in 
public,  that  Sir  Edward  or  the  Colonel  are  finer  gen- 
tlemen than  her  hulband .  The  bane  of  married  hap- 
pinefs  among  the  city  men  in  general  has  been,  that 
finding  themfelves  u;.fit  for  polite  life,  they  transferr- 
ed their  vanity  to  their  ladies,  drefled  them  up  gaily, 
and  lent  them  out  a  gallanting,  while  the  good  man 
was  to  regale  with  port  wine  or  rum  punch,  perhaps 
among  mean  companion?,  after  the  compting  houfe 
WAS  (hut :  this  practice  produced  the  ridicule  thrown 
on  them  in  all  our  comedies  and  novels  fince  com- 
merce began  to  profp^r.  But  now  that  I  am  fo  near 
the  I'ubj^a,  a  word  or  two  on  jeoloufy  may  not  be 
ami^s;  for  though  not  a  failing  of  the  prefent  age's 
-growth,  yet  the  feeds  of  it  are  too  certainly  fown  in 
ever^''  warm  bofom  for  us  to  Uf^gleft  it  as  a  fault  of 
no  ccnfcQuence.  If  you  are  ever  tempted  to  be  jea- 
lous, wa'ch  your  wife  narrowly — but  never  teafe  her; 
tell  her  your  jealoufv,. but  conce?.l  your  fufpicion; 
let  her,  in  fhort,  be  fatisfied  that  it  is  only  your  odd 
temper,  and  even  troublelbme  attachment,  that 
makes  you  follow  her;  but  let  her  not  dream  that 

?^ou  ever  doui)teJ  ferioufly  of  h?r  virtue  even 
bra  moment.  If  (he  is  difpofed  towards  jealouiy 
of  you,  let  me  befeech  you  to  be  always  explicit  with 
her  and  never  mylterious  :  be  above  delighting  in  her 
pain,  of  all  things — nor  do  your  bufmefs  nor  pay 
your  vifits  with  an  air  of  concealment,  when  all  you 
are  doing  might  a^;  well  be  proclaimed  perhaps  in  the 
parifh  ve{try.  But  I  hop»e  better  than  this  of  your 
tendernef!>  and  of  your  virtue,  and  will  rcl'^afc  you 
from  a  le<5tare  you  have  fo  little  need  of,  unlefs  your 
extreme  vouth  and  ray  uncommon  regard  will  exctife 
it    And  now  farewell;  n:ake  my  kindeft  coraplU 


192  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

ments  to  your  wife,  and  be  happy  in  proportion  a$ 
happlnefs  is  wifhed  you  by.    Dear  Sir,  Lc. 


Y< 


CHAP.  Liir. 

Gdrrick^s  Advice  to  Alarried  Ladies, 


_    E  fair  married  dames  who  fo  often  deplore 
1  hat  a  lover  once  bleil  is  a  bver  no  more  ; 
Attend  to  my  counlelj  nor  blulh  to  be  taught, 
That  prudence  muft  cherifli  what  beauty  has  caught. 

The  bloom  of  your  cheek,  and  the  glarce  of  your  eye. 
Your  rofes  and  lilies  may  make  the  men  figh  ; 
But  rofes,  and  liUes,  and  fighs  pafs  away, 
And  paffion  will  die  as  your  beauties  4ecay. 

Ufe  the  man  that  you  wed  like  your  fav'rite  guitar, 
Tho'  mufic  in  both,  they  are  both  apt  to  jar ; 
How  tuneful  and  foft  from  a  delicate  touch, 
Not  handled  too  roughly,  nor  play'd  on  too  much  i 

The  fparrow  and  linnet  will  feed  from  your  hand. 
Grow  tame  by  your  khidnefs,  and  come  at  command : 
E^ert  w:ih  your  huiband  the  fame  happy  fkill, 
I^  or  hearts,  like  your  birds,  may  be  tamM  to  your 

v/ill. 

Be  gay  and  good-humonr'd  complying  and  kind, 
Turn  the  chief  of  your  care  from  your  face  to  your 

mind ; 
*Ti3  thus  that  a  wife  may  her  conquefis  improve. 
And  Hymen  fhall  rivet  the  fetters  of  love. 


=i^':jgsKT^ 


SKEl^CHES  OF  THE  SEX.  193 

CHAP.    LIV- 

On  Widowhood. 

X  HE  hiftory  of  all  antiquity  gives  the  ftrongeft 
realbns  to  fufpeft,  that  widows  were  often  the  prey 
of  the  lawleU  tyraut,  who  fpoiled  them  with  impuni- 
ty becaufe  they  had  none  to  help  them.  In  many 
places  oflcripture  we  frequently  find  the  ftateofthe 
widow  and  the  fatberleCs  depided  as  of  all  others  the 
mod  forlorn  and  miferable  ;  and  men  of  honour  and 
probity,  in  enumerating  their  own  good  aftions,  plac^ 
mg  a  principal  fhare  of  them  in  not  having  fpoiled  the 
widow  and  the  fatherlefs.  "  If  I  have  lift  up  my 
hand  againfl  the  fatherlefs,"  fays  Job,  *'  or  have  cauf- 
ed  the  eyes  of  the  widow  to  fail/  then  let  mine  arm 
fall  from  my  ihoulder,  and  be  broken  from  the  bone/* 
In  the  book  of  Kxodus  it  is  declared  as  a  law,  that 
*Sreflvall  not  afilicl  the  widow,  or  the  fatherlefs  child. 
u  thou  alHict  them  in  any  ways,  and  they  cry  unto 
me,  I  win  furelv  hear  their  cry  ;  and  my  wrath  fhall 
wax  hot,  and  1  wiU  kill  you  with  the  fword,  and 
your  wives  fhall  be  widows,  and  your  children  fa- 
therlefs/' 

In  the  eighih  century,  one  of  the  canon  laws 
enacted  that  none  (hall  prefume  to  difturb  widows, 
orphans,  and  weak  people ;  and  no  fentence  could  be 
executed  againit  a  widow,  without  advifing  thebifh- 
cp  of  the  diocele  of  it.  Thefe  circumf:ances  cre- 
ate a  i^rong  fufpicion  that  widows  were  often  op- 
prcfl'ed  ;  otherwife,  why  fo  many  laws  for  their  par- 
ticular  protefkion  ? 

Among  many  of  the  ancients,  widowjt  were,  by 
cuRom,  reftncled  iVom  having  a  iecond  huf  band.  Al- 
moftover  all  rheEaft,  and  among  many  tribes  of  the 
Tartars,  they  believed  that  wives  were  not  "only  de- 
fined to  ferve  their  hulbands  in  this  world,  but  in 
the  ne.\t  alio  \  and  as  every  wife  there  was  to  be  tte 
XVII 


154  SKETCHES  OF  fHE  SEX. 

fole  property  of  her  firft  hufband,  fhe  could  never  ob- 
tain a  fecona,  becaule  he  could  only  fecure  to  him- 
felf  her  fervice  in  this  life, 

W  en  the  Greeks  became  fenfible  of  the  bene- 
fits arifing  from  the  regulations  of  Cecrops  concern-' 
ing  matrimony,  they  conceived  fo  high  an  idea  of 
them,  that  they  affixed  a  degree  of  infamy  on  the 
woman  who  married  a  fecond  hulband,  even  after 
the  death  of  the  firft ;  and  it  was  more  than  two  cen- 
taries  after  the  time  of  Cecrops  before  any  woman 
dared  to  make  the  attempt.  Their  hiftory  has  tranl- 
mitted  to  poUerity,  with  (ome  degree  of  infamy,  the 
name  of  her  who  firft  ventured  on  a  fecond  marriage. 
Gorgophona,  the  daughter  of  Perfeus  and  Andro- 
meda^ began  the  praffioe ;  a  pradice  which,  though 
foon  after  followed  by  others,  could  not^  even  by 
the  multitude  of  its  votaries,  be  fcreened  from  the 
public  odium.  During  a  great  part  of  the  heroic  ages, 
widows  who  married  again,  were  ccnfidered  as  hav- 
ing oftended  againft  public  decency.  ^  To  this  cuftora 
Virgil  plainly  alludes,  when  he  defcribes  the  conflift 
in  the  breaft  of  Dido,  between  her  love  for  iEneas, 
and  fear  of  wounding  her  honour  by  a  fecond  mar- 
riage. Nay,  fo  icrupulous  were  the  Greeks  abv^ut 
fecond  marriages,  thr.t  in  fome  circumltances  even 
men  were  with  difficulty  allowed  to  enter  into  them. 
Charonidas  excluded  all  thofe  from  the  public  couo- 
cils  of  the  uate,  who  had  children,  and  married  a  fe- 
cond wife.  "  It  is  impoflible,  (laid  he)  that  a  man 
can  advife  well  for  his  country,  who  does  not  ccnfult 
the  good  of  his  own  family.  He,  whofe  firft  nrarri- 
age  has  been  happy,  ought  to  reft  fatisfied  witii  that 
happinefs ;  if  unhappy,  he  muft  be  out  of  his  fenfes 
to  rifque  being  fo  again/' 

The  Romans  borrowed  this  cuftom  cf  the 
Greeks,  and  confidered  it  not  only  as  a  kind  of  breach 
of  the  matrimonial  vow  in  the  woman,  but  alio  as  af- 
fecting the  man  nearly  in  the,  fame  manner  that  her 
iniiiehty  would  have  affiled  him  w'lile  he  was  livinfi* 


SKETCHES  OT  the  SEX.  19^ 

♦^  The  foul  of  a  deceafed  huiband/'  fays  JuftiniaQ, 
**is  difturbed  when  his  wife  marries  a  fecond/^ 

In  Cumana,  when  a  hulband  dies,  it  is  faid  they 
.m:>ke  the  wiJow  fwear,  that  fhe  will  prelerve  and 
.keep  by  her  his  head  during  her  life.  This  is  in- 
tended as  a  monitor,  10  tell  her  that  fhe  is  never  to 
enter  pgain  into  the  married  ftate. 

Among  the  ancient  jews  and  Chrifiians  of  the 
primitive  ages,  there  were  certain  orders  of  men, 
who  were  not  allowed  to  join  themfelves  in  marriage 
with  widows.  ''  A  prieft,  (fays  Mofes)  (hall  not  take 
to  wife  a  widow,  or  a  divorced  woman,  or  prophane, 
or  ;m  harlot;  but  he  Ihall  take  a  virgin  of  his  own 
'\ople  to  wife/* 

Pope  Syricus,  copying  the  example  fet  by  Mo- 
fes, ordained  that  if  a  bilhop  married  a  widow,  he 
Ihould  be  degraded.  In  the  year  400,  we  find  it  de- 
creed in  the  Cyprian  council,  that  if  a  reader  m-arri- 
ed  a  widow,!  he  fliould  never  be  preferred  in  the 
church  ;  and  that  if  a  fubdeacon  did  the  faire,  he 
M.ould  be  degraded  to  a  door-keeper  or  reader. 

In  the  doomfday  bock,  we  find  the  king  exafted  ■ 
only  a  fine  of  ten  (hillings  for  liberty  to  marry  a  mai- 
den; but  it  celt  twenty   to  obtain  hberty  of  mar- 
'  ying  a  widov/. 

:::everal  legiila^ors  have  fixed  a  certain  time, 
within  which  widows  Ihould  not  be  allowed  to  mar- 
ry. Among  the  Romans  this  was  ten  months.  A- 
mong  othtr  nations  it  varied  according  to  the  regard 
they  thought  due  to  a  deceafed  huf band  ;  and  the 
exprefiion  of  that  regard  which  ought  to  be  (howii 
Sy  his  wife. 

^  la  the  eleventh  century  the  church  decreed,  that 

'  wklow  (hould  not  marry  within  the  fpace  of  one 

ear  after  her  releafe  fr^m  the  bonds  of  matrimony. 

i  he  Uws  of  Geneva  (horten  this  period  10  half  a  year. 

>Mt  as  there  are  few  countries,  in  which  the  matter 

en  up  by  the  Igiflature,  it  is  more  ccmmonly/ 

Ucd  by  cullom  than  by  law. 


196  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

About  a' century  ago,  widows  in  Scotland,  and 
in  Spain,  wore  the  drefs  of  mourners  till  death,  or  a 
fecoiid  hulband,  put  an  e:  d  to  the  e?remony.  In 
Spain  the  widow  paffed  the  firft  year  of  her  mourn- 
ing in  a  chamber  hung  with  black,  into  which  day- 
light was  never  fuffered  to  eiiter.  She  then  changed 
her  dark  and  difmal  fcenefora  chamber  hung  wi^h 
grey,  into  which  (he  fometimes  admitted  an  intruiive 
iunbeam  to  penetr?.te.  In  neitrer  of  thefe  apart- 
ments did  cuftom  allow  her  looking-glaiTes,  nor  plate, 
nor  any  thing,  but  the  m.oil  plain  ani  neceffary  fur» 
niture.  Nor  was  fhe  to  have  any  jewels  on  her  per- 
foo,  nor  to  we?.r  any  colour  but  black. 

We  are  fo  much  accuf!:omed  in  Europe  to  fee 
mourners  drefled  in  black,  that  we  h  ive  ailixed  a  me- 
lancholy idea  to  that  colour.  Black  is  not,  how- 
ever, univerfally  appropriated  to  this  purpcfe.  The 
drefs  of  Chinefe  mourners  is  white;  that  of  the  Turks 
blue;  of  the  Peruvians  a  moufe-colcur  ;  of  the  Egyp- 
tians yellow,  and  in  fome  of  their  provinces,  green. 
Purple  is  at  prefent  made  ula  of  as  the  mcurning 
drefs  of  kings  and  cardinals. 

Some  tribes  of  American  favae;e?  ailct  a  widow 
the  tedious  fpace  of  four  years  to  chafdty  and  to 
mourning.  To  this  monrnitig  and  continency  are 
added  particular  aufterities*  Every  evening  and 
mxOrning,  during  the  firfiyear,  a  widow  is  obi  ged  to 
lament  her  lofs  in  loud  lugubrious  flrains.  But,  if 
her  hulband  was  a  war-chief,  fhe  is  then,  during  the 
firft  moon,  to  fit  the  whole  day  under  his  w^ar-p;de, 
and  there  inceffimtly  to  bev/ail  her  loil  Icrd,  wiihcut 
any  fheher  from  the  heat,  the  cold,  or  whatever- 
weather  (hall  happen. 

This  v/ar-pole  is  a  treeftuck  in  the  ground,  with 
the  top  and  branches  cut  o^'.  It  is  painted  red,  and 
ail  the  weapons  and  trophies  of  war,  v/hich  belonged 
to  the  deceafed,  are  hung  on  it,  and  remain  there  till 
Uiey  rot. 

Infeveral  parts  of  Africa,  a  country  of  tyranny 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  197 

and  defpotifm,  women  are  not  only  doomed  to  be 
the  flaves  of  their  hufbands  in  this  world,  but  accord- 
ing to  tneir  opinion,  in  the  nt  xt  alio.  The  hulband 
is  no  Iboner  dead,  than  his  wives,  concubines,  Ter- 
vants,  and  even  fometimes  horfes,  mull  be  flrargled, 
in  order  to  render  him  the  fame  fervices  in  a  future  ' 
Ufe  which  they  did  in  this. 

At  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  order  that  vyT 
dows  may  not  impofe  themfelves  on  the  men  for  vir- 
gins, they  arc  obliged  by  law  to  cut  off  a  joint  from 
the  finger  for  every  huloacd  that  dies.  This  joint 
they  prefent  to  their  new  hulband  on  the  day  of  their 
marriage. 

The  Hindoos  do  not  bury  their  dead  after  the 
manner  of  mv.jy  other  nariors,  but  burn  their  bo- 
cs  up':;n  a  large  pile  of  v/ood  erefted  for  the  pur-  * 
oie.     Upon  this  pile  the  mcft  beloved  wife,  and  in 
jip.e  places,  it  is  faid,  all  the  wives  o\  great  men  are 
obliged  to  devote  theraielves  to  the  flames  which  con-  ' 
fume  the  bodies  of  their  huibands. 

In  the  hiitory  of  the  Buccaniers  of  Am.erica,  it 
.  faid,  that  a  widow  in  the  Can  ibee  Iflands  is  ob- 
liged every  day,'  for  the  fpace  of  one  year,  to  carry 
victuals  to  the  grave  of  her  deceased  hufband-,  and 
e  year  being  expired,  ihe  mufi  dig  up  his  bones,  • 
•fh  :ind  dry  them  in  the  fun,  put  them  in  a  fatchel, 
rry  them  on  her  back  all  day,  and  fleep  upon  them 
\  ni^.ht,  fcrthefp-ce  cfanotlicr  year.     C^ruel  cuf-  - 
m!  il  it  really  ey*.{\s.     But  trie  anonymous  author  " 
c>f  the  hiftory  abounds  lb  riuch  in  the  marvellous,  - 
that  he  dtfervf  s  but  Ihtle  credit. 

Herodotus  irtorn\s  us,  that  among  the  ancient  ' 
Crttuniauf;,  a  pecpl^-  oi  Thrace,  widows,  afiif^ed  by 
all  their  rclaions,  made  interefl  who  ilould  be  pre- 
fered  to  the  he  nour  of  te'nc:  killed  on  the  grave  of 
the  deceal'ed  hufband. 

In  China,  if  v.idow.  ...     !  ad  rhildrcn,  they  be- 
ccraeabfolute  mifrreffcs  ot  tlierclelves,  and  their  re- 
^siionshave  no  power  .to  compel  thtm  to  become 
XVU  % 


•ipB  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

widows,  nor  to  give  them  to  another  huiband.  It 
is  not,  however  reputable  for  a  widov/  v/ho  has 
children,  to  enter  into  a  fecond  marriage,  without 
greit  neceffity,  efpecially  if  fhe  is  a  woman  of  dil- 
tinftion.  ^  In  this  cafe,  although  (he  has  been  a  wife 
only  a  few  hours,  or  barely  contrafted,  fhe  fre- 
quently thinks  herfelfobliged'to  pafs  the  reft  of  her 
days  in  widowhood— and  thereby  to  teilify  to  the 
world  the  efteeni  and  veneration  Ihe  had  for'her  huf- 
band  or  lover, 

in  the  middle  ftations  of  life,  the  relations  of 
fome  deceafed  hufl:>ands,  eager  to  rdmburfe  the  fii- 
mily  in  the  fum  which  the  wife  originaliy  coft  it,  ob- 
lige her  to  marry,  or  rather  fell  her  to  another  huf- 
band,  if  flie  has  no  male  ifiue.  vSonietimes,  indeed.^, 
it  happens  that  the  future  huibr.nd  has  concluded  the 
bargain,  and  paid  the  money  for  her,  before  fhe  is 
acquainted  with  the  tranfiftion.  By  the  laws  of 
China,  a  uidow  cannot  be  Ibid  to  another  huibandj 
till  the  time  of  her  mourning  for  th.e  firft  expires. 
So  defirous,  however,  ara  the  friends  often  to  drf- 
pofe  of  her,  that  they  pay  no  regard  to  this  law; 
but,  on  a  eemplaint  being  made  to  a  Mandarin,  he 
is  obh'ged  to  do  her  juftice.  As  (lie  iscom^monly  un- 
willii  g  to  be  bartered  for  in  this  manner,  without 
her  ccnfent  cr  knowledgr,  as  foon  as  the  bargain  is 
furnck,  a  covered  chr^ir,  wi  h  a  ccnfiderable  number 
of  lufiy  fellows,  is  brought  to  her  houfe.  Being 
forcibly  put  into  this  chair,  fre  is  conveyed  to  the 
houfe  r  f  her  new  hufbanJ,  who  takes  care  to  fe- 
cure  her. 

In  Europe,  a  widow  in  tolerable  circuraflances  is 
mere  m-ftrefs  cf  herfelf  than  any  other  v/oman;  be- 
ing free  frrm  that  guardianlhip  and  ccntrcul  to 
wh'cb  the  fex  are  fuhjecl  while  virgins,  and  while 
wives.  In  no  part  of  Europe  is  this  mere  exemplifi- 
ed than  at  Parma,  and  feme  other  places  of  Ital  y ; 
werea  wide  wis  the  only  female  who  is  at  liberty  ei- 
ther to  chocf^  a  hulband,  or  affiime  the  government 


SKETCHES  or  the  SEX.  199 

of  any  of  her  aftions.  Should  a  virgin  pretend  to  choofe 
for  herfelf,  it  would  be  reckoned  the  mo^  profligate 
Jicentioufaefs.  Should  (he  govern  her  aflions  or 
opinions,  (he  would  be  conii Jered  as  the  moil  pert, 
and  perhaps  the  moit  abiindoned,  of  her  fex. 

Politenefsand  humanity  have  joined  their  efforts 
in  Europe  to  render  the  condition  of  widows  com- 
fortable. The  government  of  England  lus  provided 
a  fund  for  the  widov/s  of  oliicers.  The  clergy  of 
Scotland  have  voluntarily  railed  a  ftock  to  fupport  the 
widows  of  their  order.  Many  incorporated  trades 
have  followed  thefe  laudable  examples.  This  cafe  is 
not  confined  to  Britahi.  It  extends  to  France,  Ger- 
man v%  emd  other  countries,  where  it  exifts  in  forms 
^00  various  to  \^  delineated. 

The  ancient  laws  of  a  great  part  of  Europe  or- 
■'"  L^jthvit  a  widow  fhould  lofe  her  dower,  ifihe 
\i  r.gain,  c>r  fufiered  her  cKr.Rily  to  be  corrupt- 
ed, rhe  laws  of  Pruilia  retiiin  this  ■ordinance  to  the 
prefent  time.  Thev  likewife  ordain  that  a  widow 
(hall  not  marry  again,  within  nine  m^onths  after  the 
death  of  her  huliband. 

The  Pruflfians  have  another  regulation  concern- 
ing widows,  highly  delcriptive  of  the  humanity  and 
wifdom  of  the.r  legiflamre.     When  a  widower  and 
widow  intend  to  iparry,  ore  or  both  of  which  having 
children,  as  it  too  frequent-ly  happens  that  fuch  chil- 
^r-en  are  either  defpifed  or  reglefted,  in  confequence 
r"  the  new  conce<^1io!r.  formed,  and  perhaps  of  the 
"  ;  up,  the  laws  of  Priiifia  provide 
?\u\   fortiiue,  according  to  the 
Tices  of  the  parents ;  and  will  not 
r  wom.an  to  enter  into  a  fecond 
witnrut  pre^icofly  fettling  with  the  chiU 


■^y^- 


20CJ  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

CHAP.   LV. 

D.'i  Schomberg's  Method  of  Readmg,  for  Female  Improve" 
jnent. 


G. 


In  a  Letter  to  a  Lady^ 

IMadaiBj 


_  lONFORMABLE  to  your  defire,  and  my  pro- 
mile,  I  prefent  you  with  a  iew  thoughts  on  the  meth« 
od  of  reading ;  which  you  would  have  had  fooner ^ 
only  that  yeu  gave  me  leave  to  fet  them  down  at  my 
leifure  hours.  I  have  complied  with  your  requett  in 
both  thefe  paticclars ;  fo  that  you  fee,  Madam,  how 
abfolute  3^our  commands  are  over  me,^  If  my  remarks 
fhould  anfv/er  your  expeftations,  and  thepurpofe  for 
which  they  were  intended  ;  if  they  fhould  in  the 
leaft  conduce  to  the  fpending  your  time  in  a  more 
profitable  and  agreeable  manner  than  molt  of  your 
lex  generally  do,  it  will  give  me  a  pleaiurc  equal  at 
leaft  to  that  you  will  rcc  ive.  ^ 

It  w.re  to  te  xvifhed  that  the  female  part  of  the 
human  creation,  on  whom  nature  has  poured  out  fo 
many  charms  with  f)  1  ivifh  a  hand,  would  pay  fome 
regard  to  the  cultivating  of  theirminds  audimproving 
their  underftanding,-  It  is  eafily  accompliihed.  Would 
they  beftow  a  fourth  patt  of  the  time,  they  throw 
away  on  the  triflej>  and  gewgav/s  of.drefs,  in  reading 
proper  books,  it.  would  perfectly  anfwer  their  ptirpofe-. 
Not  that  I  am  agalnft  the  Indies  adorning  their  per- 
Ions  ;  let  ihem  be  fet  off  with  all  the  ornaments  that 
artand  nature  c?.n  confpire  to  produce  fcr  their  cm- 
bellifhrnent ,  but  let  it  be  with  realon  and  ^o(5d  fenlie^ 
not  caprice  and  humor  ;  for  there  is  good  fenfe  in 
drefs,  as  in  all  things  t-lfe.  Stra:.ge  doftrine  to  fome ! 
But  1  am  fure,  Madam,  you  luiow^  there  is-^ycu  - 
praftife  it. 


SKETCHES  OF  th£  SEX.  201 

The  firft  rule  to  be  laid  down  to  any  one  who 
_:2ds  to  improve,  is  nt'ver  to  read  but  with  aUention. 
As  the  abftrufe  parts  of  learnin?^  are  not  neceffary  to 
the  accoraplifhment  of  one  cf  your  fex,  a  fraall  de- 
gree of  it  will  fuiEce.  I  would  throw  the  fubjefts  of 
which  the  lad'es  ought  not  to  be  wholly  ignorant  ua- 
^der  t'     foliowing  heads  : 

HISTORY MORALITY POETRY. 

The  iirfl  employs  the  memory ;  the  fecond,  the 
J'gment ;  and  the  third,  the  imagination. 

Whenever  you  uiidertake  to  read  Hiflory,  make 
a  fmall  ebllnic^  of  the  memorable  events  ;  and  fet 
down  in  what  ye^ir  they  happened.  If  you  entertain 
yourlilf  with  the  life  cf  a  fiimous  perfon,  do  the 
lame  by  his  mcft  remarkable  a(5licn?5  with  the  addi- 
tion of  the  year  rmd  the  pl^xe  he  was  born  at  and  di- 
ed. Ycu  will  fmd  thefe  great  helps  to  your  memory, 
rs  they  will  lead  you  to  remember  what  you  do  not 
V. .  -a  hn  of  chain  th^t  links  r^e  whole 

hi..  ,         . 

Bx)ks  on  Morality  diferve  an  exaft  reading. 
There  are  nose  in  cur  language  mere  ulti  ul  and  en- 
'  l^rtainine:  than  the  Spe6lator.^,  Tatlers,  and  Guar- 
dians. '1  hey  are  the  ixandards  cf  the  Englifh  tongue, 
and  as  luch  fhculd  be  read  over  and  ever  again  ;  for 
as  we  imperceptibly  fiide  into  the  manners  and  habits 
cf  thofe  perlbns  with  v/hcm  we  moft  frequently  con- 
vcrfe,  fo  re    '  is  it  were,  a  filent  converfa- 

tion,  we  ii/.  j  and  talk  in  the  ityle  of  the 

anthers  we  iiave  tlie  mcft  often  read,  and  w^o  have 
left  the  deepelt  imprefficns  en  our  mind.  Now,  in 
order  to  retain  wl.at  you  read  on  the  various  fubjefts 
that  fall  under  the  head  of  mcrahty,  I  would  advife 
you  to  mark  uih  a  pencil  whatever  ycu  find  worth 
^'^membering.  If  a  paffage  llrike  ycu,  mark  it  dtwa 
the  margin ;  if  an  exprtffion,  draw  a  lii^e  under  it ; 

-  '   '    paper  in  the  fcie-menticard  books,  or  any 


l^ 


202  SKETCHES  or  the  SEX. 

other?  which  are  written  in  the  fame  loofe  and  un- 
connefted  manner,  made  an  afteriik  over  the  firft 
line.  By  thefe  means  you  will  k\t&  the  moft  valua- 
ble, and  they  will  fink  deeper  in  your  memory  than 
the  reft,  on  repeated  reading,  by  being  diftinguilhed 
from  them. 

The  hft  article  is  Poetry,  The  v/ay  c  diftin- 
guifhing  good  poetry  from  bad,  is  to  turn  it  out  of 
verfe  intoprole,  and  fee  whether  the  thought  is  nat- 
ural, and  tne  words  adapted  to  it ;  or  w^hether  they 
are  not  too  big  and  founding,  or  too  low  and  mean 
for  the  fenfe  they  v/ould  c  juvey.  This  rule  v/ill  pre- 
vent you  from  being  impofed  oh  by  bombaft  and  f uf- 
tian,  which  with  many  paiTes  for  fublime  ;  for  fmooth 
verfes  wiricli  run.  off  the  ear  with  an  eafy  cadence, 
and  harmonious  turn,  very  often  im-pofe  nonfenfe  on 
the  world,  and  are  like  your  fine  drelTed  beaux,  who 
pafs  for  fine  gentlemen.  Diveft  both  from  their  out- 
ward ornaments,  and  people  are  furprifed  they  could 
have  been  fo  eafiiy  deluded. 

I  have  now,  Madam,  given  a  few  rules,  and  thofe 
Inch  only  as  are  really  neceffary.  1  could  have  added 
more ;  but  thefe  will  be  fufficient  to  enable  you  to 
read  without  burdening  your  memory,  and  yet  with 
another  view  befides  that  of  barely  killing  time,  as 
too  many  are  accuftomed  to  do. 

The  talk  you  have  impofed  on  me,  is  a  flrong 
proof  of  your  knowing  the  true  value  of  time,  and 
always  having  improved  it  to  the  beft  advantage^ 
were  there  no  other ;  and  that  there  are  other  proofs, 
thofe  who  have  the  pleafure  of  being  acquainted  with 
you,  can  tell. 

As  fur  my  part,  -Madam,  you  have  done  me  too 
much  honor,  by  frngiing  me  out  from  all  your  ac- 
quaintance on  this  occafion,  to  fay  any  thing  that 
wou'd  not  look  like  flattery  ;  you  yourfelf  would 
think  it  f  >,  were  I  to  do  you  the  common  juRicc  all 
your  friends  allov/  you :  1  mull  therefore  be  filent  on 
this  head,  iind  only  fay,  that  1  (liall  think  myldf  well 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  203 

rewarded  iu  return,  if  you  will  believe  me  to  be, 
with  the  utmoft  fiucerity,  as  I  rekiUy  am. 
Madam, 

Your  faithful 

Humble  fervant, 

I.  SCHOMBERG. 


CHAP.  LVI. 

The  Deaths  of  Lucretia  and  Virginia* 

^^  HE  force  of  prejudice  appears  in  nothing  more 
ftrongly  than  in  the  encomiums  which  have  been  lav- 
ifhed  upon  Ij^cretia,  for  laying  violent  hands  upon 
herfelf,  and  Virginius,  for  killicg  his  own  daughter. 
Thefe  aftions  feem  to  derive  all  their  glory  from  the 
revolutions  to  which  they  give  rife,  as  the  former  oc- 
cafioned  the  abolition  of  monarchy  amonglt  the  Ro- 
mans, and  th'e  latter  put  an  end  to  the  arbritrar/ 
power  of  the  decemviri.  But  \(  we  hy  afide  our 
prepoffeffions  for  antiquity,  and  examine  thefe  actions 
without  prejudice,  we  cannot  but  acknowledge,  that 
they  are  rather  the  eftefts  of  human  weakijtfs  and 
obftinacy  than  of  relblution  and  magoanimlty.  Lu^ 
crctia,  tor  fear  of  worlciiy  cenfure,  chofe  rather  to 
fubrait  to  the  lewd  dcfires  of  Tarquin,  than  have  it 
thought  that  fhe  ha!  been  dabbed  in  tie  embraces  of 
a  Have ;  which  fufliciently  proves,  that  all  her  boaft:d 
virtue  was  founded  upon  vanity,  and  too  high  a  val- 
ue for  the  opinion  of  mankind.  The  youiiger  Pliny, 
whh  great  reaf  )n,  prefers  to  this  famed  aftion  that 
of  a  woman  of  low  birth,  whole  hulband  being  feiz- 
ed  with  an  incurable  diforder,  chofe  rather  to  perifh 
with  him  than  furvive  him.  The  aftion  of  Arria 
is  hkcwife  much  ftiore  noble,  whofe  hulband  Pxtus^ 
being  condemned  to  dv.alh,  plun?;ed  a  dagger  in  her 
breatt,  and  tol J  him,  with  a  dying  voicet   ''  Px*tus, 


204  SKETCHES  op  the  SEX. 

it  is  not  painful."  But  the  death  of  Lucretia  gave 
rife  to  a  revolution,  and  it  therefore  became  illuf- 
trious ;  though,  as  St.  Augufline  juftly  obferves5it  is 
only  an  inftance  of  the  weakceis  of  a  woman,  too  fo- 
licitous  about  the  opinion  of  the  world. 

Virgimu?,in  killing  his  daughter,  to  prefer  ve  her 
from  faUing  a  viftim  to  the  iufl  of  the  decemvir  Clau- 
dius,  was  guilty  of  the  higheit  i*?.fhnefs ;  fince  he  might 
certainly  have  gained  the  people,  already  irritated 
againft  the  tyrant,  without  embruing  his  hands  in  his 
own  blood.  1  his  aGion  may  indeed  be  extenuated, 
as  Virginius  flew  his  daughter  from  a  falfe  principle 
of  honour,  and  did  it  to  preferve  her  from  what  both 
he  and  fhe  thought  worfe  than  death ;  namely,  to 
preferve  her  frum  violation  :  hut  though  it  may  ia 
Ibme  meafure  he  excufed,  it  iheuld  not  certainly  be 
praifed  or  adiiured. 


Ti 


CHAP.    LVII. 

Thoughts  m  the  Education  ef  Worncn^ 

By  an  anonymous  Author. 


HE  educat'on  of  men,  and  that  of  women, 

ought  to  be  conduced  on  the  fame  principles,  fo  far 
as  it  relates  to  the  vanity  of  both  being  direfted  to 
effential  objects.  In  al^noft  every  other  refpcft,  how- 
ever, there  fhould  be  a  difference.  One  thing  in  par- 
ticular is  to  be  cautiouri'y  avovlel  ia  the  latter,  that 
is,  raifing  the  imagination,  or  fullering  them  to  do 
any  thing  from  paffioD. 

Born  for  a  life  of  uniformity  and  dependence, 
wh?.t  they  have  ©ccafion  for  is  reafon.  fweetnefs,  and 
fenfibility,  refourcfs  againft  idlenefi  and  languor, 
. moderate  defires,  and  no  paflions. 

Were  it  in  y  our  power  to  give  them  genius,  it 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  005 

t^ouIJ  be  almoft  ahviiys  a  uCeleis,  and  very  often  a 
dangerous  prefent.  It  would,  in  general,  make  them 
regret  ihe  ftation  which  Providence  has  r.irigneJ 
them,  or  have  recourfe  to  unjullifiable  ways  to  get 
from  it.  The  belt  tafte  for  i'cience  only  cDutribures 
to  make  thera  particular.  It  takes  them  away  from 
the  fimplicity  of  iheir  domellic  duties,  and  from  gen- 
eral fociety,  of  which  they  are  the  bvelieft  ornament. 

Intended  to  be  at  the  head  of  a  houle,  to  bring 
up  children,  to  depend  on  a  mafter,  who  will  ccca- 
fionally  want  their  obedience  and  advice,  their  chief 
qualifications  are  to  be  the  love  of  order,  patience, 
prudence,  and  right-mindedaefs. 

The  more  agreeable  talents  they  can  connefl: 
with  thefe  cardinal  virtues— the  more  parts  of  learn- 
ing they  have  tafted  the  elements  of,  fo  as  not  to  be 
entirely  fhut  out  of  mixed  converfation — the  more 
relifh  they  have  for  proper  and  well  chofea  books — > 
and  the  more  they  are  capable  of  reflecting,  the  bet- 
ter and  happier  beings  they  will  be. 

Roufl'eau  fays,  that  the  little  cunning  natural  to 
women  ought  not  to  be  checked,  becaufe  they  will 
want  it  to  captivate  the  men,  on  whom  they  depend. 
This  is  a  deteftable  maxim.  He  might  as  well  have 
recommendt  d  difliinulation,  and  even  open  falfehood ; 
for,  detellabie  as  they  are,  they  rnay  likewilV,  at 
times,  ierve  a  turn.  But  for  one  cafe,  in  which  vice 
may  be  ufeful,  there  are  a  thoufand  in  which  it  does 
harm.  Nor  is  there  any  thing  that  will  weather  ev- 
erv  Itorm,  fave  the  habitual  exercife  of  virtue.  Be- 
fides,  if  there  were  any  vices,  which  it  became  a  phi- 
lofopher  to  recommend,  I'urely  they  (hould  not  be 
the  lowed  of  all — thofe  which  indicate  the  laft  de- 
gree of  corruption,  both  in  body  and  mind— thofe 
of  which  immec!iate  lelf-interell  is  the  obj^ft. 

After  all,  an  artful  woman  may  govern  a  weak 
and  narrow-minded  man  ;  but  (he  will  never  gaiu 
e  efteem  and  attachment  of  a  man  of  fenfc. 

XVIU 


zo6  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

CHAP.    LVIII. 

Wedded  Love  is  infinitely  preferable  to  Variety, 


H 


AIL,  wedded  Love,  myftercus  law,  true  fourcc 

Of  human  ofFspring,  (ble  propriety, 
In  Paradife  of  all  things  common  elfe  ! 

By  thee  adulterous  lull  was  driven  from  men, 
Among  the  beftial  herds  to  range ;  by  thee. 
Founded  in  reafon,  loyal,  juft  and  pure. 
Relations  dear,  and  all  the  charities 
Of  father,  fon,  and  brother,  firft  were  known. 

Thou  art  the  fountain  of  domeftic  fweets, 
Whofe  bed  is  undefil'd  and  chiifte  pronounc'd. 
Here  Love  his  golden  fliafts  employs,  here  lights 
His  conftant  lamp,  and  waves  his  purple  wings. 
Reigns  here  and  revels  ;  not  in  the  bought  fmiie 
Of  harlots,  lovelefs,  joylefs,  unendear'd, 
Cafual  fruition ;  nor  in  court  amours, 
Mix'd  dance^  or  wanton  mafk,  or  midnight  ball. 
Or  ferenade^  which  the  ftarved  lover  fings 
To  his  proud  fair,  belt  quitted  with  difdain. 


=«5j;j^- 


CHAP,    LIX. 


On  the  Revohtlcns  of  the  French  Fqjhions^  luith  fame  Ad» 
vice  to  the  Ladies  refpe3ing  certain  parts  of  Drefs* 

[Tranflatcd  from  the  French.] 


F 


ASHION  is  to  cuftcm  what  prejudices  are  to 

the  moral  virtues.     It  im.perioufly  diftates  laws  to 
thole  who  live  under  its  empire,  and  its  decrees  are^ 
irrevocable.    Women,  that  bewitching  part  of  the 
creation,  born  for  the  happinefs  of  one  helf  of  our 
fcx,  and  for  the  torment  of  the  other,  difconteuted 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.  207 

wth  the  little  that  the  laws  have  done  for  them  in  the 
diftributionof  dired  power,  have  at  all  times  fought  to 
acquire  by  addrefs,  what  they  could  not  reafonably 
hope  to  obtain  by  open  force.  The  auxiliary  means 
which  they  have  always  employed  to  accomplifn  their 
ends  are  thofe  of  the  toilette ;  but  in  blindly  fuffering 
themfelves  to  be  guided  by  cuftom,  and  adoptingnew 
modes,  without  choice  and  without  refle«ftion,  the  fair 
fex  do  not  derive  from  thole  trifles,  to  which  they 
annex  fo  much  value,  all  the  advantages  they  expeft* 
Thofe  whom  their  rank  or  chance  has  placed  in  a  con- 
fpicuous  ftaiion,  generally  give  an  example  to  others, 
'lliey  are  the  firft  to  adopt  faihions,  and  often  take 
them  from  fome  remote  fource,  to  which  people 
of  ordinary  rank  never  would  have  gone  to  look 
for  them. 

The  grand  fault  in  what  concerns  the  toilette, 
and  that  againfl:  which  they  ought  to  be  greatly  oq 
their  guard,  is  not  to  give  too  much  into  general  fafh- 
ion,  and  not  to  believe  that  becaufe  a  particular  drefs 
bee  mes  ore  woman,  it  will  becv-ime  all  in  the  like 
manner.  To  deftroy  this  prejudice,  it  will  be  fuffi- 
cient  to  obferve,  th  it  ornaments  employed  in  drefs, 
ought  to  be  varied  in  their  conapofition,  and  to  be 
fuited  to  the  firape  and  figure  of  thofe  who  adopt 
them.  Though  one  cannot  form  general  principles 
wpon  this  fubjeft,  yet  after  havirg  taken  a  view  of 
the  modes  of  preceding  ages,  1  fliall  venture  to  make 
a  few  curfory  obfervations  upon  the  fafhions  which 
prevail  at  prefent. 

It  is  with  difguft  that  the  imagination  returns  to 
thofe  remote  ages,  when  nature,  infuUed  in  every 
rcfpeft,  and  disfigured  by  themoft  whimllcaldreffe^V 
prefented  to  the  light  only  hideous  figures.  In  the 
firft  ages  of  the  French  monarchy,  the  drefs  of  t'  e  men 
varied  more  than  that  of  the  women.  Their  clothes 
vere  alternately  either  too  long  or  too  fhort.  In  gen- 
eral, long  veftm.ents  are  more  becoming  and  more  no- 
ble than  thofe  that  are  (hort.    It  is  a  great  pity  that 


9 


208  SKETCHES  or  thk  SEX, 

this  cu^tcm  fliould  be  att^^nded  with  fo  many  incon- 
veniences,  and  that  it  fiiould  abfolutely  impede  the 
exercife  of  the  body,  and  thcfe  labours  whxh  our 
wants  require,  and  which  kixury  commands. 

Under  Philip  the  Fair,  an  epocha  when  drefs  be- 
gan to  emerge  from  barbarity,  long  coats  only  were 
worn  by  men  in  any  coniideration.  In  the  army, 
rowever,  as  well  as  i  i  ihe  country,  fhort  coats  were 
always  retained.  In  the  fourreenth  century,  the  fame 
drefs  v/as  worn  by  men  and  women.  Under  the 
reigns  of  Charlfs  V.  r.n  1  Charles  VL  long  coats  only 
were  in  failiion  ;  but  Charles  VII.  who  had  ill  made 
legs,  agr.in  introduced  long  coats.* 

Noihing  is  more  curious,  and  at  the  f  ime  time 
viiicdors,  than  the  drefs  of  people  of  fafhion  during 
the  iirll  years  of  ihe  reign  of  Louis  XL  Figure  to 
yourftlf  a  petit  mai  re,  with  his  hair  flat  and  bufhy, 
dreilrd  in  a  doublet  fhaped  like  an  under  waiftcoat 
which  fcarcely  covered  his  reins ;  his  breeches  ex^ 
ceedingly  clofe,  rifmg  very  high, and  hismiddle  bound 
round  with  ribbands,  in  a  moil  whimiical  manner,  as 
may  be  ftill  feen  in  fome  ancient  paintings ;  add  to^all 
this,  artificial  fhoulJers,  in  f -^rm  of  a  cufliioD,  which 
v/ere  placed  upon  each  fhculder-blade,  to  make  him 
appear  to  have  a  large  cheft,  and  to  give  him  a  robuft 
and  v'gorous  appearance.  This  flrange  caricatura 
was  terminated  by  flioes,  the  points  of  which,  for 
people  of  the  firii  quality,  were  full  two  feet  in 
length.  The  populace  had  them  only  of  fix  inches: 
thofe  were  what  they  called  (hoes  a  la  pmikine. 
They  were  invented  by  Henry  Plantagenet,  duke  of 
Anjou,  to  conceal  a  very  large  excrefcence  v/hich  he 
had  upon  one  of  his  feet.  As  this  prince,  the  moft 
gillant  and  beautiful  man  of  his  age,  gave  the  lead  to 
the  court,  every  one  was  defirous  of  having  (hoes 
like  his.    Hence  comes  the  origin  ot  the  French  pro- 

*  May  not  this  circumftance,  as  well  as  many  others  that  might  be 
mentioned,  ferye  to  prove  the  juftnefs  of  the  proverb,  which  rs^j?,  tli45 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.  20(> 

"^rh^fre  fur  un  grand  pud.  Undrr  Francis  I.  and  his 
fucceflbrs,  the  form  of  the  men's  drefs  heg-in  to  ap*-^ 
proac-i  p-^rfecUon  ;  but  under  the  good  Henry  IV,  it 
became  preferable  to  th*  t  wh'ch  we  have  fince  adopt- 
ed, and  which  iiill  fal-fr!is.  The  moft  ufeful  of  all 
modes,  and  t:i;it  w/.ich  will  furvive  all  others,  thought 
it  has  fouid  many  enemies  in  France,  is  the  peruke* 
Ecclefiaftics  Yr-ere  Irng  forbidden  to  wear  one  ia 
church.  In  i68 ; ,  a  canvon  o^  the  cathedral  of  Beau- 
Vjcais  was  prevented  from  celebrating  m-^fs,  becaufe 
he  wore  a  peruke.  He,  however,  dep  iited  it  in  the 
hands  of  tvvo  notaries,  1 1  e  entrance  int  j  thech oir^. 
and  pr^'tefied  againft  the  v'cld-.ice  offtr:d  him.  In 
1689,  feverul  Oratori:\ns*  v/ere  difnviTtd  from  their 
order,  becaufe  they  had  put  on  perukes.  At  that 
time  they  were  very  large,  but  at  prefer  t  every  t  ing 
is  fo  much  changed,  that  even  pyfrians,  who  for- 
merly confidered  an  enormous  peruke  as  the  bafis  of 
their  reputation,  feem  to  difdain  that  ornament. 
Several  have  adopted  the  bag,  and  perhaps  we  fhall 
fooD  fee  fhem  performing  their  morning  vifits  with  a 
bn^;  queue. 

When  br^gs  began  firfl:  to  be  in  fafliion,  people 
cever  wore  them  except  when  in  difliabille ;  in  vifits 
of  ceremony  one  could  not  appear  but  with  the  hair 
tied  in  a  rib  an  1,  and  flntirg  over  the  flioulders. 
I^.is  i^abfolutely  contrary  to  ourprefent  fafnion. 

In  the  early  periods  of  the  monarchy,  the  ladies 
fcarcdy  paii!  any  attention  to  drefs.  It  would  appear 
tV'^x  they  thought  of  nothing  more  than  pleafiog  their 
hnlb\rd«f,  and  of  giving  a  proper  education  to  their 
chiklren,  and  that  the  reit  of  their  time  was  employed 
in  familv  concerjis,  and  rural  economy.  If  their 
drefs  was  (ubjefc  t )  litile  charge  in  thoFe  primitive 
tiir.es,  w-^  ought  not  t )  be  aftoniflied  to  fee  the  fair 
fex  iaJemnify  rhemfelves  atprefent  for  their  long  in- 
aftion.    Their  drefs,  h.owever,  has  experienced  the 

•a  congiTJiation  of  prieftf  inftituted   iq  FraaCC^  by    C<iliia»l  dO 

XVllI  X 


^10  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX, 

fame  revolutions  as  that  of  men..  There  was  a  time 
when  their  robes  rofe  fo  high,  that  they  abfolutely 
covered  the  breaft ;  but  under' Charles  Vli  Ouden  Ifa- 
belli  of  Bavaria,  as  remarkable  for  her  gallantry  as 
her  beauty,  brought  back  the  fafhion  of  leaving  the 
fhoulders  and  part  of  the  neck  uncovered. 

Let  us  hear  what  Juvenal  des  Urfws  (ays  refpeft- 
ing  the  mariner  in  which  the  women  dreiTed  their 
heads.  "  Both  married  and  unmarried  ladies  were 
x^ery  extravagant  in  their  drefs,  and  wore  caps  won- 
derfully high  and  large,  having  two  great  ears  at 
each  fide,  which  were  of  luch  a  magnitude,  that 
when  they  wiftied  to  enter  a  door^  it  was  impofiible 
for  them/^  About  that  time,  the  famous  Carmelite^ 
Thomas  Cenarc\  exercifed  his  oratoncal  talents  againft 
thefe  caps.  His  effi)rts  were  at  firlr  fuccefsful ;  but 
his  triumph  was  of  fncrt  duration,  and  they  again 
rofe  to  a  prodigious  degree ;  they  however,  at  length, 
became  entirely  out  of  fafhion. 

The  reign  of  Charles  ViL  brought  back  the 
"ufe  of  ear-rings,  bracelets,  and  collars.  Some  years 
before  the  death  of  that  prince,  the  drefs  of  the  la- 
dies WIS  ridiculous  in  tiie  hip:;heft  degree.  I'hey 
wore  robes  fo  exceedingly  long,  that  feveral  yards 
of  the  tram  dragged  behind ;  the  fleeves  were  fo  wide 
that  they  fwept  the  ground;  and  their  heacls  were  loft 
luider  immenfe  .bonnets,  v/hich  were  three  fourths  of 
J  heir  breadth  in  height.  To  this  whimJical  fafhion 
inotrer  fucceeded,  w^hich  was  no  lefs  fo.  The  ladies' 
placed  a  kind  of  cufhion  upon  ihhii'  heads,  loaded 
with  ornaments,  which  difpiayed  the  v/orft  tafte 
imaginable.  This  head  drefs  was  fo  large,  that  it  was 
two  yards  in  breadth.  At  that  peiiod  it  was  abfb- 
lutely  necelTary  to  enlarge  the  doors  of  all  the  houfes. 
From  this  extremity,  the  fair  fex  paifed  to  another 
ivo  lefs  extravagant.'  They  adopted  the  ufe  of  bon- 
nets fo  exceedingly  low,  and  they  arranged  the  hair 
in  fo  dole  a  manner,  that  they  appeared  as  if  their 
teads  had  bseo  IhaveHf    On  the  death  of  Charles 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  211 

VIII.  Anne  of  Bretagne,  his  queen,  introduced  the 
ufeoft' e  bhck  veil,  which  fhe  always  wore.  The 
ladies  of  h«T  curt  ;idopted  it  alfo,  and  ornamented 
it  with  red  and  purple  fringes  ;  but  the  cits,  improv- 
ing upon  this  mode,  enriched  it  with  pearls  and  clalps 
of  gold. 

It  was  under  the  reign  of  Francis  I.  tha^^the  wo- 
men began  to  tui-n  up  their  hair.  Margaret^  queen, 
of -Navurre,  frizzed  that  on  the  temples,  and  tiirned- 
back  that  before.  This  princefs  occafionally  added 
to  this  head  drefs  a  fmall  bonnet  of  velvet  or  fatin, 
ornamented  with  pearls  and  jewels,  and  placed  over 
it  a  fmr.n  tuft  of  feathers.  Such  a  fafliion  was  very 
becoming,  and  this  perhaps  is  the  firft  period  when 
the  ladies  began  to  drefs  with  any  tafte.  A  revolu- 
tion was  abfolutely  requifite.  The  gallant  and  volup- 
tuous reign  of  Catharine  de  Medicis  necefiarily 
brought  about  a  happy  change  in  the  French  faftiions. 
It  was  about  this  time  that  the  chaperon  or  hood  ap- 
peared. This  mode  continued  a  long  tim.e,  becaufe 
the  fumptuary  laws  eftabl  fhed  a  dirii.iftion  in  the 
ftuff  which  compofed  it.  I'he  hoods  of  ladies  of  qual. 
ity  were  of  velvet,  and  thofe  of  citizens,  of  pi:nn 
cloth.  La  BQurcicr^  midwife  to  Mary  of  Medicis, 
obtained  an  exprefs  order  from  the  king  to  wear  one 
of  velvet.  Of  all  the  fumptuary  laws  made  at  diiTer- 
cnt  periods,  none  had  fo  fudden  an  effeft  as  the  edi<ft 
of  Henry  the  Great  in  1604.  This  monarch,  after 
having  forbid  Ms  fubjefts  to  wear  either  gold  or  filver 
upon  their  drefles,  adds,  "  except,  hov/ever,  ladies 
of  pleafure  and  pick-pockets,  for  whom  we  are  not 
fo  far  interefted  as  to  do  them  the  honor  of  attending 
to  their  conduct."  This  ordinance  was  attended  with 
the  prci>er  efteft,  and  neither  ladies  of  pleafure,  nor 
pick-pockets  took  any  advantage  of  their  perm'irion. 

The  French  ladies  in  the  prefenr  day  have  made 

uch  a  r?p:d  progrefs  in  the  art  of  fettiiig  off  their 

charms,  that  ihey  ar^  now  followed  by  all  the  la:^^e$ 

in  Europe.    We  have  feen  modes  of  diflircnt  kinds 


212  SKETCHES  0¥  the  SEX, 

fncceed  one  ao^'ther  wkh  incv-^nceivable  rapidity*^ 
Names  of  all  lores  have  been  ex^.auftjd.  F^.ur  voi^ 
umes  would  (cardycomaiQ  the  nome.Klture  t-^f  :li 
the  n  v-lties  wnich  the  in^^entiva  geniu?  of  the  ladies 
lias  d.vilieJ  in  the  laft  ten  years.  But  this  is  not  ai!, 
fhefiirlex  have  f :>  far  disfigured  nature,  that  one. 
muu  look  at  thern  very  clofely  not  to  be  mill?ken. 
I'heir  cavaUcr  gait,  the  black  hat,  the  ri  ing  coat, 
an  i  the  cane  which  t^ey  !:ave  adopted,  have  givea. 
theim  abnoft  ihe  appearance  of  men.  Such  a  drefs 
does  not  at  Jl  b-come  them,  a-^.d  we  cannot  help  fay- 
ing, that  it  deftroys  all  their  graces. 

Let  us  now  make  a  few  obfervati-^rs  on  the  ad- 
van  ta^^es  :ind  diiadvantages  of  female  drefs  ;  and  iet 
us  begin  with  the  ornaments  af  the  head,  which  may- 
be cillVd  the  citadel  of  coquetry. 

As  the  head  drefs  (hould  be  confidered  only  as* 
an  acceflary  part,  whenev;-r  itc  height  exceeds  the 
length  of  the  face,  it  produces  a  difagreeable  efieft; 
and  t  is  effeft  will  become  more  fenfible  in  a  woman 
whofe  p'^yiiognomy  is  fmail,  than  in  one  who  has 
Roman  features.  The  former  can  derive  no  advan- 
tage but  from  flight  crniments  which  do  not  cccupy 
much  fpace ;  five  muft  always  avoid  large  figures  and 
ftraight  lines.  A  head  drefs  w'  ich  comes  too  far  for-- 
ward  on  the  head  of  a  woman  who  havS  a  fmrdi  nofe 
and  a  flat  chin,  will  render  t^efe  bl-mifhes  mere  fen- 
ti":le,  whilft  fuch  a  drefs  will  admirably  become  one 
who  has  a  prf;minent  chin  and  a  large  nofe. 

B  autiful  eyes  loie  great  part  of  tieir  fplendor 
under  large  hats  v/crn  as  they  are  at  pref-nt.  'i  his 
head  drrfs  ought  to  be  the  re'fource  of  th-'-fe  ladies 
who  can  boaii  of  nothing  but  a  pretty  mcuth,  and  an 
agreeable  fmile.  The  col.^-urs  'f  gauze  and  ribbands- 
employed  to  ornament  the  head,  ought  to  be  fuired 
to  that  of  the  hair  and  complexion.  1  his  care  adds 
much  to  the  graces  of  nature.  !t  muft,  however,  be 
allowed,  that  the  la'ies  underftand  the  harmony  of 
colors  much  better  than  th^  relauon  of  fgraiSt 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX,  mi^ 

The  advantages  of  an  elegant  figure  are  often 
loft  by  the  ridiculous  folly  of  wilhing  to  appear  very 
flender.  One  needs  only  to  ftudy  the  fhape  of  the 
fupurb  antique  ftatue  of  Venus,  to  be  convinced  that 
the  beauty  of  proportion  is  hurt  as  much  hytooflen* 
der  and  uniform,  as  by  too  chimfy  a  wiiift.  It  muft 
be  obferved  alfo,  that  too  narrow  boddice  and  flays 
abfolutely  deftrov  gracefulnefs  and  e:ife.  The  mo- 
tions become  fli  ft',  and  the  attitudes  confined;  be- 
fidcs  fpeaking  of  the  fatal  accidents  which  may  arife 
from  this  violence  oflered  to  nature. 

Depravation  of  tade  in  reg  ird  to  drefs  was  fome 
years  ago  carried  to  a  gre.it  length.  Vtry  corpulent 
women  wifhed  to  incrtale  t!:ieir  fize  by  cork  rumps, 
which  women  who  were  too  flender,  had  ingenioufly 
invented  to  fupply  what  nature  had  refufed  them. 
We  have  feen  fome  of  a  very  diminutive  fize,  who 
by  the  help  of  this  ridiculous  piece  of  furniture  feem- 
ed  to  h  ive  acquired  as  much  dimenfions  in  breadth  as 
in  height. 

Tho^e  ornaments  which  are  intended  to  adorn 
ncture  ought  to  be  fimple  and  light.  The  Grecian 
ladies,  who  knew  fo  well  how  to  make  the  moft  of 
their  charms,  took  great  care  never  to  ufe  veils  but 
of  the  moft  pliable  i\uffs.  Thefe  veils  yield  to  their 
various  motions,  and  added  to  the  natural  graceful- 
nefs  of  their  perfons.  All  the  ancient  flatues,  there- 
fore, brought  us  from  that  country,  which  gave  birth 
to  the  arts,  are  admired  by  artifls  and  connoiileurs 
for  a  charafter  of  lightnefs  and  eafe  which  can  never 
be  furpafTed. 

It  is  wrong  to  believe,  that  cold  climates  fhould 
prevent  people  from  wearing  thin  drefTes :  by  means 
of  furred  cloakt ,  which  may  be  ufed  in  the  open  air^ 
one  may  wear  an  under  drefs  of  the  lightefl:  fluflf  pof- 
fible.  'I'hemann  r  in  which  the  Ruffian  ladies  drefs, 
m'^y  ferve  as  a  proof  of  what  we  have  here  advan- 
ced ;  but  a  proper  medium  ought  to  be  obferved  be- 
tweea  drelTes  which  are  too  dumiy,  and  thofe  which. 


214  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

on  account  of  their  thinnefs,  might  give  offence  to 
decency.  A  woman  who  expofes  herlelf  to  thefe  in- 
conveniences does  not  underttand  her  own  intereft. 

It  was  above  all  in  the  arrangement  of  the  hair 
that  the  Greek  ladies  excelled,  efpecially  with  regard 
tofimplidty.  We  muft  allow,  that  the  ladies  drefs 
better  at  prefent  than  formerly :  and  that  they  are 
nearer  to  perfeftion  than  they  were  fome  years  ago. 
A  flight  dawning  begins  already  to  appear  in  the 
manner  in  which  they  drefs  their  hair,  and  there  is 
reafon  to  hope  that  they  will  make  a  very  rapid  pro- 
grefs  in  this  part  of  the  bufmefs  of  the  toilette,  efpe- 
cially if  they  confult  nature  and  good  ar tills. 

Nothing  is  more  agreeable  and  becoming  than  to 
wear  the  hair  fljating  over  the  fhoulders.  It  is  much 
to  be  wifhed  that  the  ladies  would  adhere  to  this  cuf- 
tom.  The  curls  which  they  liave  adopted  before, 
would  become  them  much  better,  were  they  lefs  reg- 
ular,  and  difpofed  with  more  tafte. 

When  by  fome  lucky  chance  a  woman  has  at- 
tained almoft  to  perfeftion  in  the  art  of  dreffirg, 
that  is  to  fay,  in  the  art  of  knowing  what  beft  becomes 
her,  Ihe  ought  to  be  very  nice  in  her  choice  of  new 
fafniors.  In  an  age  fo  frivolous  as  the  prefent,  the 
lofs  of  a  lover  may  be  the  confequence  of  even  fuch  a 
trifling  circumftance  as  that  of  the  hat  being  wrong 
placed,  or  turned  too  much  to  the  right  or  the  left. 
When  a  pailion  is  founded  only  upon  trifles,  ought 
ye  to  be  furprifed  that  a  trifle  fhould  deflroy  it  ? 

Artifts,  who  have  fpent  their  hves  in  ftudyin^ 
the  beauties  of  nature,  are  the  beft  judges  in  this  ref- 
pcft.  They  alone  have  the  privilege  of  fixing  the  pub- 
lic opinion  in  fuch  matters.  This  is  really  their  pro- 
vince.  The  time  is  perhaps  not  far  diftant,  when  the 
fair  lex,  better  acquainted  with  their  deareft  inter- 
efts,  v/iil  invite  them  to  their  toilettes,  and  ccnfider 
them  as  the  arbiters  cf  tafte.  Favored  then  by  the 
graces  and  by  beauty,  and  envied  by  all  the  other 
clafles  of  men,  they  will  be  indenjinified  with  ufury 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX:  iis. 

For  that  negieft  with  which  ihey  have  fo  long  beea 
treated.  But  a  great  revolution  mult  take  place  be- 
fort*  that  happy  day  arrives.  At  that  epochii,  every 
thing  will  return  to  its  primitive  order,  and,  according 
to  the  French  proverb,  every  man  will  be  in  his  own 
place,  and  every  abbe  in  his  benefice. 


=£Kaga= 


CHAR   LX. 


On  looking  at  the  Figure  of  a  beautiful  Female. 

W[eyeg,. 
HAT  dazzling  beauties  ftrike  my  ravifh^d 
And  fill  my  foul  with  pleafure  and  furprife  i 
What  blooming  fweetnefs  fmiles  upon  that  face ! 
Hov  mild,  yet  how  majeftic  every  grace ! 
In  thofe  bright  ey-es  what  more  than  mimic  fire 
Benignly  fhines,  and  kindles  gay  defire ! 
Yet  ckiften'd  modefty,  fair  white-rob'd  dara«. 
Triumphant  fits  to  check  the  rifing  flame. 
Sure  nature  made  thee  her  peculiar  care  : 
Was  ever  form  fo  exquifitely  fair  ?  ^^ 

Yes,  once  there  was  a  form  thus  Heavily  bright. 
But  now  'tis  vrird  in  everlalling  night ;  ' 
Each  glory  which  that  lovely  face  could  boaft. 
And  every  charm,  in  tracelels  dufl  is  loft  ^ 
An  unregarded  heap  of  ruin  lies 
That  form  which  lately  drew  ten  thcufand  eyes. 
What  once  was  courted,  lov'd,  adcr'd,  and  praisM, 
Now  miogles  with  the  duft  from  whence  'twas  rais'd. 
No  more  foft  dimpling  fmiles  th  fe  cheeks  adorn, 
AVhofe  rofy  tinfture  iham'd  the  rifing  morn  ; 
No  more  with  fparkling  radiance  (hiue  thofe  eyes, 
Nor  over  thole  the  faille  arches  rife  ; 
Nor  from  thDfe  ruby  lips  foft  accents  flow, 
Nor  lilies  on  the  ff:owy  f(;rehead  blow ; 
AH, all  arecropp'd  hy  death's  imp:\rti?J  hand,  [ftand ; 
Charms  could  not  bribe,  nor  beauty's  pow'r  with* 


2i6  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

Not  all  that  crowd  of  wond'rous  charms  could  fave 
The  fair  poffelTor  from  the  dreary  grave. 

^  How  frail  is  beauty,  tranfient,  falfe  and  vain  ? 
It  flies  with  morn,  and  ne'er  returns  again. 
Death,  cruel  ravager,  delights  to  prey 
Upon  the  young,  the  lovely  and  the  gay. 
If  death  appear  nor,  oft  corroding  pain. 
With  pining  fickneis  in  her  languid  train. 
Blights  youth's  gay  fpring  with  fome  untimely  blaft. 
And  lays  the  blooming  field  of  beauty  wafte  : 
But  fhould  thefe  fpare,  ftill  time  creeps  on  apace, 
And  plucks  with  withered  hand  each  winning  grace ; 
The  eyes,  lips,  cheeks,  and  bofom  he  difarms. 
No  art  from  him  can  fhield  exterior  charms. 

But  would  you,  fair  ones  be  efteem'd,  approved. 
And  with  an  everlafting  ardor  lov'd  ; 
Would  you  in  wrinkled  age,  admirers  find, 
In  every  female  virtue  drefs  the  mind  ; 
Adorn  the  heart,  and  teach  the  foul  to  charm, 
And  when  the  eyes  no  more  the  breaft  can  warm, 
'I'hefe  ever-blooming  beauties  (hall  infpire 
Each  gen'rous  heart  with  friendfhip's  facred  fire  ; 
Thefe  charms  fhall  neither  wither,  fade,  nor  fly ; 
Pain,  ficknefs,  time,  and  death,  they  dare  defy. 
When  the  pale  tyrant's  hand  (hall  feal  your  doom. 
And  lock  your  afhes  in  the  filent  tomb, 
Thefe  beauties  fhall  in  double  luftre  rife, 
Shine  round  the  foul,  and  waft  it  to  the  ikies. 


«^;3^= 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  217 

CHAT.    LXI. 

THE  Extra^s  which  follow,  irecxclufively  from  **  The  Hiftory  of  Wo- 
men, from  the  cirlicit  Antlouiiiy,  to  the  prtlcnt  lime"— by  Dr. 
Alexander* 

EJucaiien  of  W^omm  in  Afia  and  Africa — Amvfemenis  of 
the  Grecian  Ladies — Religiciis  Fejlivals  of  the  Grceks^^ 
Religious  Dancers^  <bc. 

XN  feveral  of  the  warmer  regions  of  Afia  and  Afri- 
ca, where  women  are  confidered  merely  as  inliru- 
nients  of  animil  pleafure,  the  little  education  beuow- 
ed  upon  them,  is  entirely  calculated  to  debauch  their 
minds  and  give  additional  charms  to  their  per  Ions. 
They  are  inftrufted  in  fuch  graces  and  dluring  arts 
as  tend  to  inflame  the  paifions ;  they  are  taught  vo- 
cal and  inftrumental  mufic,  which  they  accompany 
with  dances,  in  which  every  movement,  and  every 
gefture,  is  expreffively  indecent :  but  they  receive 
no  moral  inftrudion ;  for  it  would  teach  taem  that 
they  were  doing  wrong :  no  improvement ;  for  it 
would  fhew  them  that  ihey  were  degrading  them* 
felves,  by  being  only  trained  up  to  fatisfy  the  plea- 
fures  of  fenfe.  This,  however,  is  not  the  practice 
of  all  parts  of  Afia  and  Africa :  the  women  of  Hin- 
doilan  are  educated  more  decently ;  they  are  net 
allowed  to  learn  mufic  or  dancing ;  v/hich  are  only 
reckoned  accomplifhraenss  fit  f-^r  ladies  of  pleafure  : 
they  are^  notwithftanding,  t::ught  all  the  perfonal 
graces  ;  and  particular  cure  is  taken  to  inflruft  them 
in  the  art  of  converfing  with  elegimce  and  vivacity : 
fome  of  them  are  alfo  taught  to  write,  and  the  gen- 
erality to  read,  that  they  may  be  able  to  read  the 
Kora ) ;  inllead  of  which,  they  more  frequently  ded- 
icate theml^^lves  to  tales  and  romances;  which, 
Ijainted  in  a'l  the  lively  imagery  of  the  Eall,  feldorn 
fa.l  t.^  c  rmpt  the  minds  of  creatures  (hut  up  from 
the  worlJ,  and  confcquentlv  forming  to  themfclvec 


21 8  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

extravagant  and  romantic  notions  of  all  that  is  tranf- 
afted  in  it. 

In  well  regulated  families,  women  are  taught  by 
heart  fome  prayers  in  Arabic,  which  at  certain  hours 
they  affemble  in  a  hall  to  repeat ;  never  being  allow- 
ed the  liberty  of  going  to  the  public  mofque.  They 
are  enj  -ined  always  to  wafh  therr Jelves  before  pray- 
ing ;  and,  indeed,  the  virtues  of  cleanlinefs,  of  chaf- 
tity,  and  obedience,  are  fo  (trcngly  and  confLantly 
inculcated  on  their  minds,  that  in  fpite  of  their  gen- 
eral deb<iu:hery  of  manners,  there  are  not  a  few 
among  them,  who,  in  their  common  deportment,  do 
credit  to  the  inftruftions  btftowed  upon  them  ;  nor 
is  this  much  to  be  wondered  at,  when  we  confider 
the  tempting  recompence  that  is  held  cut  to  them ; 
they  are,  ia^aradife,  to  licurifh  forever,  in  the  vig- 
our of  youth  and  beauty  ;  an  J  however  olJ,  or  ugly, 
when  they  depart  this  life,  are  there  to  be  immedi- 
ately •ransformcd  into  all  that  is  fair,  and  all  that  is 
graceful. 

AS  the  Greek  ladies  were  almoft  cooflantly  em- 
ployed, an  ]  as  voluntary  employment  often  banifhes 
even  every  wifii  of  pleafure  and  diffipaiicn,  we  have 
reafon  to  belitve  that  they  had  few,  if  any,  private 
diver fions  or  amufements  ;  w!  ich  are  generally  the 
o&pring  of  idlenef^  as  appears  plainly  from  the 
difference,  iln  this  refpeft,  between  the  women  and 
the  men;  the  former,  as  we  have  obferved,^bemg 
fully  emiployed,  had  no  need  of  am.ufements";  the 
litter beirg  frequently,  and,  in  Spart?,  even  by  law 
obhged  to  be  confiantly  idle,  were  thereby  induced 
to  have  recourfe  to  games  and  fports  of  various  kinds 
to  fill  up  their  vacant  hours,  and  prevent  that  un- 
comfortable tedinm  which  fo  conllantly  attends  idle- 
^nefs  :  to  fome  of  thefe  pu':^iic  fports  the  women  were 
'admitted,  and  from  otrers  excluded  by  the  fevereft 
penalties.  Their  lf.gifl;itor  poflibly  imagined,  that 
Ihould  they  be  indifcriminately  achnitted  to  all  the 
amjufemenis  of  the  men,  they  would  acquire  an  un- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  219 

fuUable  boldnefs,  and  negleft  the  feveral  duties  and 
oHices  required  of  them  at  home.  To  what  we  have 
here  obferved  the  Spartan  women  are,  however,  an 
objeflion  :  we  have  already  feen,  that  they  amuled 
themfelves  with  the  mafculine  exercifes  of  wreftling, 
throwing  darts,  &c.  But  this  is  not  all :  they  were 
obliged  to  appear  naked  at  feme  of  their  folemn  feafts 
and  facrifices,  and  to  dance  and  fmg,  while  the  young 
men  flood  in  a  circle  around  them ;  an  amufement 
highly  indelicate,  or,  if  a  religious  ceremony,  only 
worthy  of  the  Cyprian  goddel's. 

ANOTHER  caufe,  which  contributed  to  make 
the  religious  feftivais  of  the  Greeks  appear  as  amufe- 
raents  and  diverfions,  was  that  ridiculous  buf- 
foonery that  confiitutcd  fo  great  a  part  of  them :  it 
would  be  tedious  to  ennumerate  one  half  of  thefe 
bufTooneries  ;  but  let  a  few  ferveas  a  fp:cimen.  At  a 
feftival  held  in  honour  of  B  icchus,  the  women  ran 
about  for  a  long  time  feekicg  the  god,  who,  they  pre- 
tended, had  run  away  from  them  :  this  done,  they 
pafl'ed  their  time  in  propofmg  riddles  and  queftions 
to  each  other,  and  l.iu^:hin5  at  fuch  as  could  not 
anfwer  them ;  and  at  la(t  often  clofed  the  fcene  with 
fuch  enormous  excefles,  that  at  one  of  thefe  fettivals, 
the  daughters  of  Miny a,  having,  in  their  madnefs, 
killed  Hippafus,  had  him  drefled  and  ferved  up  to 
table  as  a  rarity.  At  another,  kept  in  honour  of 
Venus  and  Adonis,  they  be;it  their  breaf!-s,  tore  their 
hair,  and  mimicked  all  the  f  gns  of  the  moil  extrava- 
gant grief,  with  which  they  fuppofed  the  goddefs 
to  have  been  affecbed  on  the  death  of  her  favourite 
paramour.  At  another,  in  honour  of  the  nymph 
Cotys,  they  addreffed  her  as  fhe  goddefs  of  wanton- 
nefs  with  many  myflerious  rites  and  ceremonies. 
At  Corinth,  thefe  rites  and  ceremonies,  being  per- 
haps thought  irc^nfiftcnt  with  the  charafter  ot  mod- 
ef:  women,  this  feftival  was  only  celebrated  by  har- 
lots.   Athenxus  mentions  a  feftival,  at  which  the 


2^p  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX* 

women  laid  hold  en  all  the  old  bachelors  they  could 
find,  and  dragged  them  round  an  altar ;  beating 
them  all  the  time  with  their  fifts,  as  punifhment  for 
their  negleft  of  the  lex.  We  fhall  only  mention  two 
more  ;  at  one  of  which,  after  the  aflembly  had  met 
in  the  temple  of  Ceres,  the  women  fhut  out  all  the 
men  and  dogs,  themfelves  and  the  bitches  remaining 
in  the  temple  all  night :  in  the  morning,  the  mea 
were  let  in,  and  the  time  was  fpent  in  laughing  to- 

f ether  at  the  frolic.  At  the  other,  in  honour  of 
Sacchus,  they  counterfeited  phrenzy  and  raadnefs  ; 
and  to  make  this  midnefs  appear  the  more  real,  they 
ufed  to  eat  the  raw  and  bloody  entrails  of  goats  new- 
ly flaughtered.  And,  indeed,  the  whole  ct  the  fetti- 
vals  of  Bacchus,  a  Deity  much  worfhipped  in 
Greece,  were  celebrated  with  rites  either  ridiculous, 
obfcene,  or  madly  extravagant.  There  were  others, 
however,  in  honor  of  the  other  gods  and  goddefles, 
which  were  more  decent,  and  had  more  the  appear- 
ance of  religious  folemnity,  though  even  in  thefe,  the 
women  dre&d  out  in  all  their  finery  ;  and  adorned 
with  flowers  and  garlands,  either  formed  fplendid 
proceffions,  or  aflifted  in  performing  ceremonies, 
the  general  tendency  of  which  was  to  amufe  rather 
than  inftruft* 


IN  the  neighborhood  of  Surat,  the  Hindoos  hare 
many  magnificent  temples ;  and  in  every  tem_ple 
are  a  number  of  Bramins,  or  priefts,  dedicated  to 
the  ferviceof  the  god  there  worfhipped.  A  part  of 
that  fervice  confifls  in  dancing  on  religious  aflem- 
biles,  and  other  folemn  occafions ;  and  thefe  dances 
are  performed  by  young  women,  the  moft  handfome 
and  beautiful  in  the  country.*  Thefe  refide  in  the 
temple,  and  are  by  the  Bramins  carefully  collefted 
from  every  place,  where  their  own  influence,  or  the 
veneration  of  their  tem.ple  reaches.    In  order  to  in- 

*  When  Mamood  firft  took  the  magnificent  temple  of  Sumnat,  he 
found  there  five  hundred  dancing  girls,  and  three  hundred  aau£ici4a^* 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  221 

(Slice  them  to  enter  into  this  fervice,  befides  the  im- 
nienfe  rewards  held  out  to  them  in  the  world  to 
come,  they  have  Ibme  peculiar  privileges  in  this* 
They  may  leave  the  temple  v/hen  they  pleafe  ;  and 
being  acGoiinted  holy,  they  are  then  eagerly  fought 
after  in  marriage,  aiid  have  the  preference  in  this  ref* 
pect  to  all  other  women.  Wnile  in  the  temples, 
they  are  entirely  under  the  direftion  of  the  Bramms  ; 
and  it  is  by  many  fuppv')fed,  that  they  are  alio  entire* 
ly  appropriated  to  their  pleafures ;  but  however  this 
be,  they  are  hardly  ever  allowed,  like  the  other  fe- 
male dancers  of  the  country,  to  perform  for  the 
amufement  of  tlie  public. 

Befides  thefe  religious  dancers,  there  is  almoft 
in  every  large  city,  companies  of  dancing  girls,  called 
Balliaderes ;  who,  in  the  manner  of  our  (trolling 
players,  go  about  for  the  amufement  of  the  public  ^ 
and  who  will  exhibit  their  performances  at  the  houfe 
of  any  perfon,  who  is  able  to  pay  what  they  demand  ; 
or  may  be  feen  by  any  one  for  a  trifle  at  their  public 
afferabhes.  Thefe  beautiful  girls  are  conftantly  fol- 
lowed by  an  cU  deformed  mulician,  who  beats  time 
with  a  brazen  indrument,  called  a  Tom  ;  and  con- 
tinually at  every  llroke  repeats  the  word  Tom  with 
fuch  vociferation,  that  he  foon  works  himfelf  into  a 
kind  of  phrenzy ;  the  Balliaderes,  at  the  fame  tim^e 
eager  to  pleafe,  and  intoxicated  with  the  mufic,  and 
the  fmell  of  the  effences  with  which  they  are  per- 
fumed, fcon  after  begin  to  be  in  the  fame  ftate : 
their  dances  are  in  general  exprefTive  of  the  paffioa 
of  love,  and  they  manage  them  fo  as  to  give,  even 
morant,  tolerable  ideas  of  that  paffion  ia 
rent  fituations  and  circumflances ;  and  fb 
great  is  their  beauty,  fo  voluptuous  their  figure,  fo 
rich  and  ingenioufly  contrived  their  drefs,  that  they 
Idom  perform  v/ithout  drawing;  together  a  numer- 
ous crowd  of  fpedators. 

Strolling  female  dancers,  who  live  by  that  pre- 
felTion,  are  not,  however,  peculiar  to  the  £aft  Indies ; 


222  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

they  have  of  late  been  met  with  in  Otaheite,  and 
feveral  other  places  ;  but  befide  their  ftrolling  dancers 
in  Otaheite,  they  have  a  dance  called  Timoradee, 
which  the  young  girls  perform,  when  eight  or  ten  of 
them  can  be  got  together  ;  it  confilis  in  every  mo- 
tion, geflure,  and  tone  of  voice  that  is  truly  lafcivi- 
ous  ;  and  being  brought  up  to  it  from  their  child- 
hood,  in  every  motion,  and  in  every  gelture,  they  * 
keep  time  with  an  exaftnefs  fcarcely  excelled  by  the 
moft  expert  ftage-dancers  of  Europe,  But  though 
this  diverfion  is  allowed  to  the  virgin,  it  is  prohibited 
10  the  wife ;  who,  from  the  moment  of  marriage, 
'''\iYi  abflain  from  it  forever. 


^:;3^= 


CHAR    LXII. 


Pimijhment  of  Polygamy  in  Tigypt — Semiramis  of  Affyrla-^ 
AccQunt  of  the  Sybarites — Ciijhms  of  the  Grecian  Women* 

i  HE  men  in  Egypt  were  not  allowed  to  indulge 
in  polygamy,  a  flate  which  always  prefuppofes  women 
to  be  llaves.  The  chaility  of  virgins  was  protefted 
by  a  law  of  the  levered  nature ;  he  who  committed  a 
rape  on  a  free  woman,  had  his  privities  cut  oft,  that 
it  miglit  be  out  of  his  power  ever  to  perpetrate  the 
1  ke  crime,  and  th:it  others  might  be  terrified  by  fo 
dreadful  a  punifnment.  Concubinage,  as  well  as 
•polygamy,  feems  either  not  to  have  been  lawful,  or 
iU  leail  not  niihionable ;  it  was  a  liberty,  however, 
in  v/hich  their  kings  were  fometimes  indulged,  for, 
we  find  when  Selbflris  let  cut  on  his  expedition  to 
epnquer  the  wcrld,  he  left  the  government  of  the 
kingdom  to  his  brother,  with  full  power  over  every 
thing,  except  the  royal  diadem,  the  queen,  and  royal 
concubines.  The  queens  of  Egypt  are  faid  to  have 
been  much  honored,  as  well  as  more  readily  obeyed 
thauJthe  kings  j  and  it  is  alfo  related,  that  the  huf* 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  22^ 

bands  were  ia  their  marriage-contrails  obliged  to 
promife  obedience  to  tiieir  wives  ;  a  thing  which  in 
our  modern  times  we  are  often  obliged  to  perform, 
though  our  wives  entered  into  the  promil'e. 

WHILE  Ninus,  king  of  Airyria,was  befieging 
Bactria,  it  is  faid  that  the  attempt  would  have  failed, 
had  it  not  been  for  the  aliiftance  of  Semiramis,  then 
wife  of  one  of  his  principal  officers,  who  planned  a 
method  of  attacking  the  city,  with  inch  fup^rior  ikill, 
that  he  foon  became  malter  of  it.  Ninus  being  at- 
trafted  by  the  beauty  and  art  of  tliis  virago,  foon  be- 
came pailionately  fond  of  her  ;  in  the  mean  time,  her 
hulbaad  forefeeing  that  this  palTion  would  end  in  his 
deftruftion,  to  avoid  tailing  a  viftim  to  hcent  ious  def- 
potiim,  privately  put  an  end  to  his  life.  The  main 
obftack  being  thus  removed,  Ninus  took  the  adul- 
trefs  to  wife,  an  action  which,  according  to  lome  au- 
thors, he  had  foon  reafoD  to  repent,  for  fhe  having 
firft  brought  over  to  her  intereft  the  principal  mea 
of  the  ftite,  next  prevailed  on  her  fiUy^  hulband  to 
inveft  her,  for  the  Ipace  of  five  days,  with  the  fcver- 
eign  power ;  a  decree  was  accordingly  ifTued,  that  all 
the  provinces  fhould  implicitly  obey  her  during  that 
time ;  which  having  obtainea,  flie  began  the  exercife 
of  her  '"  '  uy,  by  putting  to  death  the  too  indul- 
gent h ,  ,  ho  had  conferred  it  on  her,  and  fole- 
curing  to  hevicilf  th;  '•  '  :\  Other  authors  have 
denied  that  Ninus  r  1  this  rafli,  or  Semiramis 
this  execrable  deed,  but  ail  ugree  that  (he  fucceeded 
her  hulband  at  his  death,  in  whatever  manner  it  hap- 
pened. Seeing  herfeif  at  the  head  of  a  mighty  em- 
pire, and  ftruck  with  the  love  of  magnificence  and 
fame,  fhe  propofed  to  render  her  name  immortal,  by 
performing  fomething  thatftiould  far  furpafsall  that 
had  beea  done  by  her  predeccfibrs;  the  fcheme  fhe  fell 
uj>')n,  was  to  build  in  the  (pxc  of  one  year,  the 
mighty  city  of  Babylon ;  which  l^eing  finifhed  withia 
Ihe  propofed  Ume^  greatly  e:&ceedifd  in  nia^uiilceQce 


224  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

any  thing  the  world  had  ever  feen  ;  two  millions  of 
men  are  laid  to  have  been  conftantly  employed  on  it, 

duricg  the  lime  it  was  ereffing. 

THE  Sybarites,  from  the  imperfecl  accounts  we 
have  of  them,  placed  the  whole  of  their  happinefs  in 
indolence,  eating,  finery,  and  women.  Their  bodies 
were  fo  much  relaxed  with  floth,  and  their  minds 
with  vcluptuouinefs,  that  the  greateft  affront  that 
could  he  offered  to  any  one,  was  to  call  him  a  Sybar- 
ite, an  appellation,  which  comprehended  in  it  almoil 
every  human  crime,  and  every  human  folly.  In  grot- 
toes, cooled  with  fountains,  their  youth  fpent  a  great . 
part  of  their  time  in  fcenes  of  debauchery,  amid  wo- 
men, either  elegantly  adorned  by  art,  or  fometimes 
reduced  to  a  ftate  of  nature.  Women  of  the  firft 
quality,  the  ugh  not  ^ifpofed  of  by  auftion,  were 
treated  in  a  manner  fomewhat  fimilar  ;  they  were 
givea  as  a  reward  to  him  v/ho,  in  contending  for 
them,  fhewed  the  greateft  fplendor  and  magnificence. 
When  any  great  entertainment  was  defigned,  the 
wom.en,  who  were  to  make  a  part  of  the  company, 
were  invited  a  year  before,  that  they  might  have  time 
to  appear  in  all  the  luflre  of  beauty  and  of  drefs  ;  a 
circum^ftance  which  plainly  proves  that  they  did  not, 
as  fome  other  nations,  value  the  fex  only  as  cbjefts 
of  fenfua!  pleafure,  but  as  objefts  which  added  ele- 
gance to  their  fcenes  of  magnifkence  and  grafndeur ; 
and,  perhaps,  becaufe  they  excelled  the  m.en  in  foft- 
nefs  and  effeminacy,  qualities  upon  which  they  fet 
the  greateft  value,  and  cultivated  v/ith  the  utmoft 
affiduity. — Thefe  people,  after  having  been  for  many 
centuries  the  contempt  of  the  univerfe,  were  at  latt 
Ihamefully  driven  from  their  country,  and  entirely 
difperled  by  the  Cratonians. 

BUT  confinement  was  not  the  greateft  evil  which 
the  Grecian  women  fuffered  ;  by  other  cuftoras  and 
laws  they  were  (till  more  oppreffed  :  it  was  not  ia 


SKETCHES  OP  the  SEX.  its 

their  power  to  do  any  judicial  aft  without  the  con- 
fent  of  a  tutor  or  guardian  ;  and  fo  little  power,  even 
over  themfelves,  did  t'.e  legillature  devolve  upon  wo- 
men, though  ripened  by  age  and  experience,  that 
when  the  father  died,  the  fon  became  the  guardian 
of  his  own  mother.  When  a  woman  was  cited  into 
court,  (he  was  incapable  of  anfwering  without  her 
guardian ;  and  therefore  the  words  of  the  proclama- 
tion were,  *'  We  cite  A.  B.  and  her  guardian.'^  In 
making  a  will,  it  was  not  only  neceffary  that  the 
guardian  (hotild  give  his  confent,  but  that  he  fhould 
be  a  party.  Thefe  I'afts  Ihew,  that  the  Greek  wo- 
men were  under  the  mofl:  complete  tutelage,  where- 
by they  were  deprived  of  almoft  all  political  exift- 
cnce  ;  and  teach  us  to  confider  a  guardian  and  his 
pupil  as  the  fubitance  and  the  fhadcv/,  the  latter  of 
which  could  not  exilt  without  the  former.  But  this 
is  not  all ;  we  have  already  mentioned  fome  of  the 
flaviih  employments  to  which  they  were  put,  and 
(hall  now  add,  that  in  the  heroic  ages,  the  woraea 
did  all  the  flavith  and  domefcic  offices,  even  fuch  as 
were  inconfillent  with  the  delicacy  and  modefly  of 
the  fex ;  they  conduced  the  men  to  bed,  dreffed.  and 
undreiTed  them,  attended  thein  while  in  the  baths, 
dried  and  perfumed  Lhem  when  they  came  out  of 
them  ;  nor  were  thefe,  and  fuch  other  offices  only  al- 
loted  to  fervants  or  (laves  ;  no  rank  was  exempte4 
from  them.  ^  ITie  princefs  Nauffica,  daughter  of  Al- 
cinous,  carried  her  own  hnen  to  the  river  in  a  chari- 
ot, and  having  wafhed  and  laid  it  on  the  bank,  fat 
down  by  it,  and  dined  on  the  provifion  (he  had 
brought  along  with  her.  When  fuch  was  tl:e  em- 
ployment of  their  own  women  of  rank,  we  cannot 
expeft  that  their  captives  (hould  (hare  a  happier 
fate  ;  accordingly,  we  find  Ileftor  lamenting,  that^ 
fliould  Troy  be  taken,  his  wife  would  be  condemn- 
ed to  the  moft  (lavi(h  drudgery  ;  and  Hecuba  bewail- 
ing, that,  like  a  dog,  (he  was  chained  at  the  sate,Qf 
AgameiunoQ. 


226  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

In  the  ftate  of  wedlock,  a  ftate  of  all  others  the 
moft  delicate,  the  Lacedemonians  feem  to  have, been 
deftitute  of  all  the  finer  feelings;  for,  defpifing  that 
principle  of  mutual  fidelity,  which  in  ibme  degree  ap- 
pears to  have  been  ciierifhed  by  every  people  only  a 
fii  gle  degree  removed  from  the  rudeft  barbarity, 
they  without  any  reluftancy,  borrowed  and  l(^nt 
wives  with  each  other ;  a  kind  of  barter  totally  in- 
confiilent  with  that  fympathetic  union  of  loul^, 
which  always  does,  or  ought  to  take  place,  between 
hufband  and  wife :  but  the  matter  did  not  e^d  here  ; 
for,  by  the  laws  of  Solon,  a  lufty  well-made  young 
fellow  might,  when  he  pleafed,  demand  permiilion  to 
cohabit  with  the  wife  cf  any  of  his  fellow-citizens, 
who  was  lefs  handfome  and  robuft  than  himfelf,  un- 
der pretence  of  raifing  up  children  to  the  ftate,  who 
fhould,  like  the  father,  be  ftrcng  and  vigorous ;  and 
fuch  aa  unreafonable  demand,  the  hufband  was  net 
at  Hberty  to  reject :  what  ftill  further  fhews  how  ht- 
tle  dehcacy  exifted  in  their  connections  with  their 
wives,  is  their  conduft  in  a  war  with  the  Myffinians  ; 
when,  having  bound  themfelves  by  a  folemn  oath, 
not  to  return  to  their  own  city 'till  they  had  re- 
venged the  injury  t'ey  had  received,  and  the  war 
having  been  unexpefteclly  protracted  far  the  fpace  of 
ten  years,  they  began  to  be  afraid  that  a  longer  ab- 
fence  would  tend  greatly  to  depopulate  their  ftate  ; 
to  prevent  which,  they  i'ent  back  a  certain  number  of 
thofe  who  h'ld  joined  the  army,  after  the  above-men- 
tioned oath  had  been  taken,  with  full  power  to  co- 
habit with  all  the  wives,  whofe  hufbands  were  abfent. 
Nothing  can  more  plainly  difcover  the  deipicable 
condition  of  the  Grecian  women :  the  ftate,  as  a  body 
politic,  regarded  them  only  as  inftruments  of  general 
propagation  ;  and  their  hufbands  indelicately  acqui- 
efced  in  the  idea,  which  they  never  could  have  done, 
had  they  been  actuated  by  any  thing  but  animxal  ap- 
petite, and  had  not  th.it  appetite  been  fixed  more  ou 
tfee  fex  than  the  individual. 


SKETCHES  or  the  SEX,  227 

CUAF.    LXIII. 
Raj>e  of  the  Sabine  Virgins -—Women  cf  Scythia,  Alejfa- 
get  a — Cruelty  tf  Amejlrism 

VV  HEN  Romulus,  the  founder  of  Rome,  had 
formed  his  infant  republic,  finding  that  he  had  no 
women,  and  that  none  of  the  neighboring  nations 
would  give  their  daughters  in  marriage  to  men 
whom  thev  confiJe^ed  as  a  fet  of  lawlefs  banditti ; 
he  was  obliged  by  flratagem  to  procure  for  his  citi- 
zens, what  he  could  not  obtain  for  iheiii  by  intrea- 
ty.  Accordingly,  having  proclaimed  a  folemn  feaft, 
and  aa  exhibincn  of  games  in  h  nor  of  Equeftrian 
Neptune,  and  by  that  means  gathered  a  great  num- 
ber of  people  together  ;  on  a  fignal  g'ven,  the  Ro- 
mans, with  drawn  Iwords  in  their  hands,  rulhed 
among  the  ftrangers,  and  forcibly  carried  away  a 
great  number  of  th-ir  daughters  to  Rome.  The  next 
day  Romulus  himlelf  diftributed  them  as  wives  to 
thofe  of  his  citizen??,  who  had  thus  by  violence  car- 
ried them  awciy.  From  fo  rude  a  beginning,  and 
among  a  p:op!e  fo  levere  and  inflexible  as  the  Ro- 
mans, it  is  not  unnatural  for  the  reader  to  expect  to 
find,  that  women  were  treated  in  the  fame  indignant, 
if  not  in  a  worfc  manner,  than  they  were  among  the 
nations  we  have  already  mentioned.  In  this,  how- 
ever, he  will  be  mill  .ken  ;  it  was  the  Roma^is  who 
firft  gave  to  the  fex  public  liberty,  who  firft  properly 
cultivated  their  minds,  and  thought  it  as  neceffaryas 
to  adorn  the'r  bodies :  among  them  were  they  llrft 
fitted  for  fociety,  and  f^r  b-comi'ir  ratinanl  compan- 
ions ;  and  among  them,  was  it  firft  demonflrated  to 
the  wcrid,  that  thev  were  capable  of  great  afti^ns, 
and  deferved  a  b'etfer  fate  than  to  ^  e  fhu^  up  in  ferag- 
Iiv>s,  and  kept  only  as  the  pageants  of  ^laadeur,  gr 


2^9 "  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

inftruments  of  fatisfying  illicit  love ;  (ruths  which 
the  fequel  of  the  hiftory  of  the  Sabine  women  will 
amply  confirm. 

The  violent  capture  of  thefe  young  women  by 
the  Romans,  was  highly  refented  by  all  the  neigh- 
boring nations;  and  efpecially  by  the  Sabines,  to 
whom  the  greateft  part  of  them  belonged  ;  they  fent 
to  demand  reftitution  of  their  daughters,  promifmg,  at 
the  fame  time,  an  alliance,  and  liberty  of  intermarry- 
ing with  the  Romans,  fhould  the  demand  be  compli- 
ed with.  But  Romulus  not  thinking  it  expedient  to 
part  with  the  only  polTible  means  he  had  of  raifing 
citizens,  inftead  of  granting  what  they  aflced,  deman- 
ded of  the  Sabines,  that  they  fhould  confirm  the  mar- 
riages  of  their  daughters  with  the  Romans.  Thefe 
conferences,  at  laft,  produced  a  treaty  of  peace ;  and 
that^  hke  many  others  of  the  fame  nature,  ended  in 
a  more  inveterate  war.  The  Romans  having  in  this 
gained  Ibme  advantages,  the  Sabines  retired ;  and 
having  breathed  awhile,  fent  a  fecondembaffy  to  de- 
mand their  daughters,  v/ere  again  refufed,  and  again 
commenced  hoiiilities.  Being  this  time  more  fuc- 
celsful,  they  befieged  Romulus  in  his  citadel  of 
Rome,  and  threatened  immediate  deftruftion  to  him 
and  all  his  people,  unlefs  their  daughters  were  reftor- 
ed.  In  this  alarming  fituation,  Herfilia,  wife  of 
Romulus,  demanded  an  audience  cf  the  fenate,  and 
laid  before  them  a  defign,  which  the  women  had 
formed  among  thcmfelves,  without  the  knowledg;e 
of  their  huf  bands,  which  was  to  aft  the  part  of  nie- 
diators  between  the  contending  parties.  The  pro- 
pofal  being  approved,  a  decree  was  immediately  paf- 
I'ed,  pennitting  the  women  to  go  on  the  propofed  ne- 
gociation ;  and  only  requiring,  that  each  of  them 
mould  leave  one  of  her  children,  as  a  fecurity  that  fhe 
would  return ;  the  reft,  they  were  all  allowed  to 
carry  with  them,  as  objefts  which  ml/ht  more  effec- 
tually move  the  compalRon  of  their  fathers  and  reli- 
tionst    Thu.  authorifed,  the  women  laid  afide  their 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  229 

ornaments,  put  on  mourning,  and  carrying  their 
children  in  their  arms,  advanced  to  the  camp  of  the 
ibines,  and  threw  themfelves  at  the  feet  of  their 
I  cithers.  The  Sabine  king,  having  aflembled  his 
chief  officers,  ordered  the  women  to  declare  for  what 
purpofe  trey  were  come  ;  which  Herfilia  did  in  fo 
pathetic  a  manner,  that  Ihe  brought  on  a  conference 
between  t:  e  chiefs  of  the  two  nations,  and  this  con- 
ference, by  her  mediation,  and  that  of  the  other  wo- 
men, fooD  ended  in  an  amicable  aUiance. 


THIS  corruption  of  manners  reigned  but  too  uni- 
verf  liy  among  the  ancients.  The  MeffagetcV,  a  pec- 
pliof  Scythia,  bdrg  confined  to  one  wife,  while  the 
nations  around  them  were  indulged  with  the  libert^^  of 
polygamy  and  concubinage  ;  in  order  to  put  them- 
felves in  fome  degree  on  a  footing  with  their  neigh- 
bors, introduced  a  kind  of  community  of  wives,  and 
a  man  who  had  an  inclination  to  the  wife  of  his 
friend,  only  carried  her  into  his  waggon  or  hut,  and 
hung  up  a  quiver  while  fhe  was  there,  as  a  fign  j  that 
they  might  not  be  interrupted.  In  this  manner  were 
decency  and  the  mod-  facr^d  ties  of  matrimony  pub- 
licly violated  ;  but  what  d'jcency,  what  regard  to  the 
moft  folemn  inflitutions  can  we  expeft  in  a  people 
who  were  fo  rude  and  b3rbarous,  iliat  when  any  of 
their  relations  became  eld,  they  met  together,  and 
along  with  fome  cattle  iet  apart  for  the  purpofe,  fac- 
rificcd  them  to  iheir  go-Is  ;  then  having  boiled  to- 
gether the  flefh  of  the  human  and  ihe  more  ignoble 
yicHms,  they  devoured  it  ?.s  a  mcft  deli^ioun  Vepaft. 
'J;  '  '"'nswere  flill  more  debauched  than  the 
^■  .     In  the  reign  of  Jar'anes,  fo  ungoverna- 

ble was  their  luft,  that  Omphale,  the  king's  only 
daug  .ter,  could  fcarcelv,  even  withm  the  wails  of 
the  royal  p-^lace,  find  flielter  from  the  licentious  rcu!- 
titude.  Oir  phale  at  lecgth  fucceedirg  to  the  throne 
of  her  father,  punifhed  with  the  utmoll  feverity  fuch 
as  had  formerly  abufed  her ;  on  the  women,  whom 

AA. 


230  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX 

it  appears  ilie  confidered  as  net  lefs  criminal  than  the 
men,  fhe  revenged  herfelf  in  a  lingular  manner ;  fhe 
ordered, that  over  all  her  kingdom^they  (hould  be  fliut 
up  with  their  flaves. 

The  Scythians,  whofe  character  is  far  from  be- 
ing the  mcft  abandoned  of  the  ancients,  feem  not 
to  have  much  caufe  to  boafl  of  the  chaitity  and  fidel- 
ity of  their  women  ;  the  greateil  part  of  their  men 
having  on  feme  cccafion  made  an  expedition  into 
Afia,  were  detained  there  much  beyond  their  expec- 
tation, v/heu  their  wives,  either  impatient  for  their 
long  abferxe,  or  defpairir  g  of  their  return,  took  their 
fervants  and  flaves,  and  invefted  them  in  all  the  priv- 
ileges of  their  abfent  hulbands.  Thefe,  fometime 
after  hearing  that  their  mafters  were  about  to  return, 
fcriiiied  and  in'renched  themfelves,  in  order  to  hin- 
der them  from  entering  into  their  own  country,  and 
claiming  their  wives  and  polleilions.  The  Scythians 
having  advanced  to  their  flaves,  feveral  fivirmiflies 
w^ere  fought  between  them,  with  doubtful  fuccefs, 
when  one  of  their  leaders  advifed  his  countrymen  not 
to  light  again  with  their  own  flaves  as  with  equals, 
ncr  to  att?.ck  them  with  warlike  weapons,  which 
were  figns  cf  freedom,  but  v.^ith  fuch  whips  and 
fcourges  as  they  had  formerly  been  accuftomed  to 
make  them  feel.  1  his  advice  being  put  into  execu- 
tion, the  whips  recalled  their  ideas  of  flavery,  and 
all  the  pufiilanimity  naturally  attending  it ;  they 
threw  down  their  arms  and  fled  in  confufion,  many 
of  them  were  taken  and  put  to  death,  and  not  a  few 
cf  the  unfaithful  v/ives  defiroy(iKl  t  en'felvcs,  to 
avoid  the  relentm^ent  of  their  injured  hufbands. 
Though  thisilory  has  keen  by  different  authors  va- 
ried in  feveral  of  its  circumfcacces,  yet  as  fo  many 
have  agreed  in  relating  it,  we  have  not  the  lean: 
doubt  of  its  authenticity,  efpecially  as  we  are  affur- 
ed  that  the  Novogorodians,  whofe  city  ftandsinSar- 
matian  Scythia,  had  formerly  a  coin  ftamped  in  mem- 
ory of  it,  v/ith  a  man  on  horleback  fhaking  a  whip 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  231 

in  his  hand  ;  and  it  is  fuppofed  that  the  ancient  cuf- 
tom  in  Ruilia,  which  is  now  happily  forgot,  of  the 
bride  prefeiUing  the  bridegroom  on  the  nuptial  night 
with  a  whip,  originated  from  this  ftory  of  the  Scythi- 
an wives* 


IN  countries  where  there  is,  as  in  Perfia,  an  un- 
limited liberty  of  polygamy  and  concubinage,  jealoufy 
in  the  fair  fex  is  a  paflion  much  weakened  by  the 
variety  of  oojefts  that  divide  it,  and  the  reftraint  laid 
on  it  by  the  deipotifm  of  the  men ;  we  Ihould  not 
therefore  expeft  to  find  it  operating  very  ftrongly. 
But  even  here,  where  the  king  is  the  feverett  deipot 
of  the  country,  and  women  only  the  tools  of  his  lull, 
and  flaves  of  his  power,  we  meet  with  inftances  of 
this  pallioa  exerting  itielf  in  the  moft  cruel  mannen 
Xemes,  among  many  other  amours,  had  conceived 
a  paflion  for  the  wife  of  his  brother  Mafiftus,  which 
he  profecuted  for  a  long  time  by  prcmifes  and  threat- 
enings,  without  any  fuccefs,  when  quite  tired  of  fo 
many  fruitlefs  efforts,  he  at  laft  changed  his  attack 
>m  the  mother  to  her  daughter,  who,  with  much 
.^.s  oppofiiioD,  yielded  herfelf  to  his  wifhes. — Amef- 
tris  his  queen,  having  difcovered  the  amour,  and 
imagining  that  the  daughter  only  afted  by  the  direc- 
tion of  her  mother,  from  that  moment  refolved  on 
the  feverefl  revenge.  By  ancient  culiom  in  Perfia, 
the  queen  had  a  right,  on  the  king's  birth-day,  to 
demand  of  him  any  favour  that  (he  thought  proper  ; 
Ameflris  afked  that  the  wife  of  Mafillus  ihouhi  be 
delivered  into  her  hands,  whom  fhe  had  no  fooner 
received,  than  The  ordered  her  breads,  nofe,  tongue, 
and  lips  to  be  cut  oil,  and  thrown  to  the  dogs,  and 
that  (he  (hould  be  detained  to  fee  her  own  fle(h  de- 
voured by  them. 

Among  a  people  fo  abanJcned,  and  fomuch  the 
flaves  of  cruelty  and  lu(t,  a  people  who  made  every 
thing  fuWiervient  to  voluptuouihefs  and  debauchery, 
ix  is  natural  to  think  that  raodclty  among  the  fair 


.^3-^  SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX. 

fex  could  fcArcely  have  any  exiftence.— This,  how- 
ever, was  net  uiiiverfklly  ihe  cafe  ;  a  few  women, 
even  inPerfia,  were  far' from  being  deftitute  of  that 
mode'ty  and  feniibility  which  are  the  ornament  of 
their  lex,  and  the  deUghc  of  curs.  Atolfa,  the 
diughter  of  Cyrus,  and  the  wife  of  Darius,  being 
attacked  with  a  cancer  in  her  bread,  and  thinkicg  it 
inco':ii1;ent  with  the  modelty  of  her  fex  to  difcover 
the  difeafed  part,  fufferei  in  lilence,  till  the  pain  be- 
came intolerable,  when,  after  many  ftruggles  in  her 
own  mind,  ihe  at  laft  prevailed  en  herfelf  to  (hew  it 
to  Deinocedes,  her  phyfician.  .We  might  mention 
inore  particular  inliances  of  the  modefty  of  the  Per-. 
"in  women,  but  we  pais  over  them,  t.3  take  notice 
i'^a  1  anecdote  of  a  lady  in  a  neighboring  kingdom, 
which  faews,  that,  in  the  times  under  review,  there 
were  fome  women  fuiceptible  of  fentiment  and  feel- 
ing ;  things  v/hich  are  not  frequently  met  with  in  the 
Eali.  Tygranes  and  his  new-married  wife  being 
taken  prilbners  by  Cyrus,  Tygranes  offered  a  great 
ranfom  for  her  liberty  ;  Cyrus  generoufly  releafed 
them  both  without  any  reward ;  as  foon  as  they  were 
alone,  the  happy  couple,  naturally  falling  into  a  diC- 
courfe  concerning  their  benefaftor  ;  "  V/hat  do  you 
think,^*  faid  Tygranes,  "  of  his  afpeft  and  deport- 
ment ?"  "  I  did  not  obferve  either,''  faid  the  lady. 
*'  Upon  what  then  did  you  fix  your  eyes,'*  laid  Ty- 
granes ?  *'Upon  the  man,"  returned  fhe,  ''who 
generoufly  offered  fo  gr^at  a  ranfom  for  ray  liberty.'' 
So  little  was  modetty  and  chaftity  cultivated 
among  the  ancients,  that  many  nations  feem  to  have 
had  no  idea  of  either.  The  Aufi,  a  people  of  Lybia, 
cohabited  fo  promifcuoufly  with  their  women,  that 
the  whole  of  tne  children  of  the  (tate  were  confider- 
edas  a  community  till  they  were  able  to  walk  alone, 
when,  being  brought  by  their  mothers  into,  a  public 
affembly  of  the  people,  the  man  to  whom  a  child  firit 
fpoke  was  obliged  to  acknowledge  hirafelf  its  faiher. 
The  wives  of  the  Baftrians  were^  through  a  long  lis^ 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  233 

ties  of  years,  famed  for  licentioufQefs ;  and  cuftom 
had  given  fuch  a  fandion  to  their  c^-irnes,  that  the 
hulbands  had  not  only  loft  all  power  of  reftraining 
them,  but  even  durft  h'.irdly  venture  to  complain ^of 
their  ii: fidelity.  In  Cyprus,  an  iiland  (acred  to  Ve- 
nus, the  very  rites  of  their  religion  w^ere  all  mirgled 
with  debauchery  and  prcllitution.  And  the  Ly- 
dians,  and  many  other  nations,  publicly  proftituted 
their  daughters,  and  other  female  relations,  for  hire. 
But  to  mnltiply  inflances  of  the  depra\'ity  of  ancient 
manners  would  be  endlefs ;  mankind,  even  when 
bridled  by  the  {irongefl:  penal  laws,  and  reftricled  in 
their  pallions  by  thefacred  voice  of  religion,  are  but 
too  often,  in  the  purfuit  of  unlawful  pleafures,  apt  to 
difregard  both  ;  what  then  muft  they  have  been  be- 
'^  re  fociety,  before  laws  exifled,  and  when  religion 
It  its  faa'i^tion  to  encourage  the  vices  and  deprave 
the  heart  ?  In  thofe  times  we  have  the  greateit  rea- 
fon  to  believe  that  debauchery  reigned  with  but  little 
coDtroul  over  two- thirds  of  the  habitable  globe. 


^^Pi^ 


CHAR  LXIV, 


yapanefi  Delicacy — Delicacy  of  the  LyJians — Licentious 
Law  of  Denmark — Extraordinary  JFomen, 


A. 


^MONG  people  holding  a  middlirg  degree,  or 
rather  perhaps  fometliing  below  a  middle  degree,  be- 
tween the  moll  uncultivated  rufticiry,  and  the  moft 
refined  politenefs,  we  find  female  delicacy  in  its  high- 
eft  perfection.  The  Japanefe  are  but  juft  emerged 
lome  degrees  above  favage  f^arbarity,  and  in  their 
>^iflory  weare  prefented  by  Ken^pfer,  with  an  in* 
nee  of  the  elfeft  of  delicacy,  wnich  perhaps  has 
not  a  parallel  in  any  other  country.  A  lady  be- 
ing at  a  table  in  apromifcuous  company,  in  reaching 
XX  2 


234  SKETCHES  or  thf.  SEX, 

for  fomething  that  {he  wanted,  accidentally  brofe' 
•wind  backwards,  by  which  her  delicacy  was'fo  mucb 
wounded,  that  (he  immediately  arofe,  laid  hold  on 
her  breafls  with  her  teeth,  and  tore  them  till  fhe 
expired  on  the  fpot.  In  Scotland,  and  a  few  other 
parts  of  the  north  of  Europe,  where  the  inhabitants 
are  Ibme  degrees  farther  advanced  in  politenefs  than 
the  Japaneie ;  a  woman  would  be  almcft  as  much 
afhamed  to  be  detected  going  to  the  temple  of  Cloa* 
cina,  as  to  that  of  Venus.  In  England,  to  go  in 
the  moft  open  manner  to  that  of  the  former,  hardly 
occafions  a  blufh  on  the  moft  delicate  cheek.  At 
Paris,  we  are  told  th?.t  a  gallant  frequently  accom- 
panies his  miitrefs  to  the  fhrine  of  the  goddefs,  ftands 
ceniinel  at  the  door,  and  entertains  her  with  boa 
Kiots,  and  protefhitions  of  love  all  the  time  fne  is 
worlhippint^  there;  and  that  a  lady  when  in  a  car- 
riage,  whatever  company  ba  aloDg  with  her,  if  called 
upon  to  exonerate  nature,  pulls  the  cord,  orders  the 
driver  to  flop,  fleps  out,  and  having  performed 
what  nature  required,  refumes  her  feat  without  the 
leaft  ceremony  or  difcompofure.  1  he  Parifian  wo- 
men, as  well  as  thofe  in  many  of  the  other  large 
towns  of  l^Vance,  even  in  the  moft  public  companies 
make  no  fcruple  of  talking  concerning  thofe  fecrets 
of  their  fex,  which  almoil  in  every  other  country  are 
reckoned  indelicate  in  the  ears  of  the  men:  nay,  fo 
little  is  their  referve  on  this  head,  that  a  young  lady 
on  being  aiked  by  her  lover  to  dance,  will  without 
blufh  or  hefitation,  excufe  hei^felf  on  account  of  the 
iTnpropriety  of  dcing To  in  her  prefent  cirtumftances.^ 
The  Italians,  it  is  (Vid,  carry  their  indelicacy  ftill 
farther:  women  even  of  character  and  fafhion,when 
-afked  a  favour  of  another  kind,  will  with  the  utmoffi 
coTipofure  decline  the  propofar  on  account  of  being 
y  t  prefent  under  a  courfe  of  medicine  for  the  cure  of 
a  certain  ciforder.  When  a  people  have  arrived  at 
that  point  in  the  fcah  of  pohtenefs,  which  entirely 
^difcards  delicacy,  the  chaility  of  their  women  muft 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX;  23.5 

be  at  a  low  ebb ;  for  delicacy  is  the  centinel  that  is  • 
placed  over  female  virtue,  and  that  cendnel  once 
Gver-come,  chattity  is  more  than  half  conquered. 

EVEN  among  the  Lydlans,  a  people  who  were 

highly  debauched,  it  appears  that  female  delicacy 

was  far  from  being  totally  extinguilhed ;  Candauies, 

one  of  their  kings,  being  married  to  a  lady  of  exqui- 

fite  beauty,  was  perpetually  boafting  of  her  charms 

to  his  courders,  and  at  laft,  to  fatisfy  his  favourite 

Gyges  that  he  had  not  exaggerated  the  defcription, 

he  took  the  dangerous  and  indelicate  refolution  of 

giving  him  an  opportunicy  of  feeing  her  naked.    To 

accomplifh-  this,  Gyges  was  conveyed  by  the  king 

into  a  fecret  place,  where  he  might  ice  the  queea 

drefs  and  undreis,  from  whence,  however,  as  he 

retired,  (he  accidentally   fpied  him,  but  taking  no 

notice  of  him  for  the  prefent,  fne  only  fet  herfelf  to 

^^nfider  the  mofl  proper  method  of  revenging  her 

ared  modefty,  and  punifhing  her  indelicate  hul- 

id ;  having  relblved  how  to  proceed,  fhe  fent  for 

yges,  and  told  him  that  as  ftie  could  not  tamely 

lubmit  to  the  ftain  which  had  been  offered  to  her 

honour,  flie  infilled  that  he  (hould  expiate  his  crime 

^rer  by  his  own  death  or  that  of  the  king,   that 

omen  !T!i2:ht  not  be  living  at  the  fame   time  who 

ite  of  nature.     Gyges,  after 

ices,  performed  tne  latter, 

queen,  and  mounted  the  throne  of  Ly- 

—     ^i_,.;js  the  fobles  and  hiflorical  anecdotes  of 

antiquity,  their  poets  ftldom    exhibited  a  female 

character  in  its  lovelieft  form,  without  adorning  it 

with  the  graces  of  modefty  an  J  delicacy;  hence  we 

may  infer,  that  thefe  qualities  have  not  only  been 

always  efleniial  to  virtuous  women  in  civilized  coun- 

antly    praifed  and 

Piutaich,  iti  his  treat:  ed,  "The  Virtuous 

Aftious  of  Wome'j,*'  l., ........  feveral  anecdotes 


236  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

which  ftrongly  favour  our  idea  of  delicacy  being  an 
innate  principle  in  the  female  mind;  the  moft  Itrik- 
ing  is  that  of  the  young  women  of  Milefia,  many  of 
whom,  about  that  time  of  life,  when  nature  giving 
birth  to  reftlefs  and  turbulent  defires  inflames  the 
imagination,  and  aftonifhes  the  heart  at  the  fenfa- 
tion  of  wants  which  virtue  forbids  to  gratify,  to  free 
themfelves  from  the  conflift  between  nature  and  vir- 
tue, laid  violent  hands  on  themlelves;  the  conta- 
gion becoming  every  day  more  general,  to  put  a  flop 
to  it,  a  law  was  made,  ordaining  that  every  pne  who 
committed  that  crime  fhould  be  brought  naked  to 
the  market  place  and  publicly  expofed  to  the  peo- 
ple; and  fo  powerfully  did  the  idea  of  this  indelicatei 
expofure,  even  after  death,  operate  on  their  minds^f 
that  from  thenceforth  not  one  of  them  ever  made  an 
attempt  on  her  own  life. 

THIS  inftitution  of  auricular  confeffion,  in  the 
light  which  we  have  juft  now  confidered  it,  lays  an 
obttacle  in  the  way  of  unchaftity,  by  expofmg  it  to 
public  fhame,  which  in  all  civilized  countries  is  one 
of  the  ftroDgeft  paffions  which  mark  the  female  cha- 
rafter.  But  women  are  now  become  too  cunning 
to  fall  into  the  fnare ;  and  while  their  aftions  cf  this 
kind  remain  private,  it  is  prefumable  they  feldom 
confefs  them.  But  as  the  expofure  to  public  fhame 
is  one  of  the  moft  powerful  methods  of  laying  hold 
of  the  mind  of  the  fex,  the  laws  of  fociety,  as  well 
as  thofe  of  religious  inilitucions,  have  availed  them- 
felves of  it,  and  made  it,  among  every  p:ll(hed 
people,  one  of  the  feverelt  parts  of  the  punifhment 
to  which  the  female  deHnquent,  who  has  departed 
from  the  pith  of  reftitude,  is  expofed  ;  and  confe- 
quently  one  of  the  greateft  obftacles  which  can  be 
thrown  in  the  road  to  unchaftity.  1  his  appears  from 
the  condud  of  the  women  of  Iceland,  when  the 
public  fhame  attending  incontinency  was  lulpended 
on  the  following  cccafioa ;  In  the  year  one  thou* 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  237 

fand  feven  hundred  and  feven,  a  great  part  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Iceland  having  died  of  a  contagious 
/  '\  ■)er,  tha  king  of  Denmark,  in  order  to  re- 
.  the  country  in  a  more  expeditious  manner 
Lliaa  the  common  rules  of  procreation  admitted  of, 
ma:le  a  law,  authorifmg  all  young  women  to  have 
each  fix  baiinrds,  witiiout  beiug  expofM  to  any 
fname,  or  fulFering  tke  lofs  of  reputation.  This 
fucceeded  beyond  the  expectation  of  the  monarch  ; 
and  the  youag  women  employed  themielves  fo  fedu- 
loufly  in  ths  affair  of  population,  that,  in  a  few 
years,  it  was  thought  necelTary  to  abrogate  the  law, 
leaft  the  country  inould  be  ovcrilocked  with  inhiibi* 
tants,  and  that  ienfe  of  (hame  annexed  to  unchaility^ 
fo  much  obiiteraced  from  the  female  breaft,  that 
ueithiT  law  nor  cuftoai  would  b-:  able  aften^^arJs  to 
nevive  it.  Were  it  not  almoft  felf-evident  to  every 
one,  that  this  public  (harae  attending  female  indii* 
cretion,  is  one  of  the  ftrongett  motives  to  fecure 
their  chaftity,  v/a  might  prove  it  more  fully  from 
other  circumitances.  Nothing  can  be  more  certain, 
than  that  in  tnofe  countries  where  no  fhame  is  fixed 
to  any  aftion,  there  is  no  public  chaftity ;  and  that 
this  virtue  flourifhes  the  moft,  where  its  contrary 
vices  are  bnmded  with  the  very  greateft  degree  of 
infamy. 

WHAT  we  have  now  advanced,  points  out  to  us 
'  e  reafon,  why  women  have  feldom  or  never  con- 
buted  to  the  improvement  of  the  abftraci  fciences: 
but  there  is  Hi!'  rreafon;the  fex  are  almofl 

every  where  i:^.,._  1  in  their  education,  and  ia 
Ibme  degree  flaves ;  and  it  is  well  known,  that  fla?^ 
verv  throws  a  damp  on  the  genius,  clouds  the  fpirits^; 
a;jcl  takes  more  than  h:df  the  worth  away  from  every 

K,.^, ,,.  K-'-ng.    Tiie  hiflory  of  eve-- :-'ad,  and  of 

e,  prefents  us  with  i  raordinary 

\v  .0  have  foared  abov-?  aii  tr.eie  difadvaa^ 

tat, .      .  ^    Ihoae  ia  ail  the  diliereat  chanicler?. 


238  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

which  render  men  eminent  and  vconfpicucus.  Syria 
furnifhes  us  with  a  Semiramis,  Africa  with  a  Zeno- 
bia ;  both  famous  for  their  herdfm  and  iivill  in  gov- 
ernment. Greece  and  Rome,  with  many  who  fet 
public  examples  of  courage  and  fortitude;  Germany 
and  England  have  exhibite'd  queens,  whofe  talents 
in  the  field,  and  in  the  cabinet,  would  have  done 
honour  to  any  fex;  but  it  was  referved  for  Ruflia, 
in  the  perfon  of  theprefent  Emprefs,  to  join  bothtn- 
lents,  and  to  add  to  them,  what  is  Itill  more  noble, 
an  inclination  to  favour  the  fciences,  and  reftore 
the  natural  riglits  of  mankind ;  rights  which  almoft 
every  other  fovereign  has  endeavoured  to  deftroy. 
Upon  the  wh.cle,  we  may  conclude,  that  though  in 
the  progrefs  of  mankind  from  ignorance  to  know- 
ledge, women  have,  for  the  reafons  already  afligned^ 
fellom  taken  the  lead,  yet  they  have  not  beea 
backward  to  fc  How  the  path  to  utility  or  improve- 
ment, when  pointed  out  to  them. 


=:s£;2^ 


CHAR    LXV. 


Courage  ef  Savage  Wcrnien — Bdfperate  AEl  of  Enthira — 
'Luxurious  Drefs  of  the  Grecian  Ladies — Firjl  ufe  of 
Hair  Powder* 


Ai 


^MONG  the  Efquimaux.  and  feveralctVer  fav- 

age  people,  the  women  go  out  to  hunt  and  fifh  along 
with  the  men.  In  thefe  excurfions,  it  is  neceflary  for 
them  not  only  to  have  courage  to  attack  whatever 
comes  in  their  way,  but  to  encounter  the  ftorms  of  a 
tempefiuous  climate,  and  endure  the  hardfhips  of  fa- 
mine, and  every  other  evil,  incident  to  fuch  a  mode 
of  hfe,  in  fo  inhpfpitable  a  country.  In  fome  places, 
where  the  woods  afford  little  game  for  the  fubfillence 
^i  the  natives,  and  they  are  confequeutly  obliged  to 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  ^39 

procure  it  from  the  ftormy  feas  which  furround  them, 
women  h.irdly  (how  lefs  courage,  or  lefs  dexterity, 
in  eacountering  the  waves,  than  the  men.  In  GreeQ- 
land,  they  will  put  off  to  fea  in  a  vefft^l ;  and  in  a 
ftorm,  which  would  make  the  moll  hardy  Europe- 
an tremble.  In  many  of  the  iflands  of  the  South 
Sea,  th:y  will  plunge  into  the  waves,  and  fwim 
through  a  furf,  which  no  European  dare  attempt. 
In  Himia,oneof  the  Greek  Iflands,  young  girls, 
before  they  be  permitted  to  marry,  are  obliged  to  fifh 
up  a  certain  qurmtity  of  pearls,  and  dive  for  them 
at  a  certain  depth.  Many  of  the  other  pearl-fifli- 
eries  are  carried  on  by  women,  who,  befides  the 
danger  of  diving,  are  expofed  to  attacks  of  the  ve- 
racious fhark,  und  other  ravenous  fea-animals,  who 
frequently  watch  to  devour  them. 

IN  ancient  and  modem  hiftory,  we  are  frequently 
prefented  with  accounts  of  women,  who,  preferring 
death  to  fl;very  or  proflitution,  facriiiced  their 
lives  \s  ith  the  moft  undaunted  courage  to  avoid  them. 
Apollodorus  tells  us,  that  Kercules  having  taken  the 
city  of  Troy,  prior  to  the  famous  fiege  of  it  celebra- 
ted by  Homer,  carried  away  captive  the  daughters 
of  Laomedon  then  king.  One  of  thefe,  named  Eu- 
thira,  being  left  with  i'everal  other  Trojan  captives  on 
board  the  Grecian  fleet,  while  the  failors  went  on 
(hore  to  take  in  frefli  provifions,  had  the  refolution 
to  propole,  and  the  power  to  perlua  !e  her  compan- 
ions, to  fet  the  Ihips  on  lire,  and  to  perifh  them- 
(elves  amid  the  devouring  flames.  The  women  of 
Phamicia  met  together  before  an  engairement  which 
was  to  decide  the  fate  of  their  city,  and  having  agreed 
to  bury  thcmfelves  in  the  flames,  if  their  hufbands 
and  reb.tions  were  defeated,  in  the  cnthufiafm  of 
their  c  urage  and  refolution,  th^y  crowned  her  with 
fl  -w-rs  who  firft  made  the  prrpofal.  Many  inftan- 
ces  oca\r  in  the  hittory  of  the  Romans,  of  the  Gauls 
and  Germans,  and  of  other  nations  in  fubfequent 


240  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

periof^s  ;  where  women  being  driven  to  defpair  by 
their  enemies,  have  bravely  defended  their  walls,  or 
waded  through  fields  of  blood  to  aflift  their  country, 
men,  and  free  themfelves  from  flavery  or  from 
ravifhment.  Such  heroic  efforts  are  beauties,  even 
in  the  charafter  of  the  fofter  fex,  when  they  proceed 
from  neceffity:  when  from  choice,  they  are  ble- 
naiflies  of  the  molt  unnatural  kind,  indicating  a 
heart  of  cruelty,  lodged  in  a  form  which  has  the  ap- 
pearance of  gentlenefs  and  peace. 

It  has  been  alleged  by  fome  of  the  writers  on  hu- 
man nature,  that  to  the  fair  fex  the  lofs  of  beauty  is 
more  alarming  and  infupportable  than  the  lofs  of  life; 
but  even  this  lofs,  however  oppofite  to  the  feelings 
of  their  nature,  they  have  voluntarily  confented  to 
fuftaiD,  that  they  might  not  be  the  objefts  of  temp- 
tation to  the  lawlefs  ravifher.  The  nuns  of  a  cow- 
vent  in  France,  fearing  they  ihould  be  violated  by  a 
TuSian  army,  which  had  taken  by  flcrm  the  town 
in  which  their  convent  was  fituated,  at  the  reccm- 
.mendation  of  their  abbefs,  mutually  agreed  to  cut 
cifall  their  nofes,  th?.t  they  might  fave  their  chafdty 
by  becoming  objefts  of  difgvift  infiead  of  defire. 
A-^ere  we  to  defcend  to  particulars,  we  could  give 
innumerable  inftances  of  women,  who  from  Se- 
miramis  dov/n  to  the  prefent  time,  have  diitin- 
guiflied  themfelves  by  their  courage.  Such  was  Pen- 
thefilea,  who,  if  we  may  credit  ancient  ftory,  led 
her  army  of  viragoes  to  the  cifiifrance  of  Priam  kiog 
of  Trov;  Thorny ris,  who  encountered  Cyrus  king 
of  Perfia;  and  Thaleftris,  famous,  for  her  fighting, 
as  well  as  for  her  amours  with  Alexander  the  Great. 
Such  was  Boadicea,  queen  of  the  Britons,  who  led 
on  that  people  to  revenge  the  wrongs  done  to  herfelf 
and  her  country  by  the  Romans.  And  in  hter  peri- 
ods, fuch  was  the  M'jid  of  Orleans,  and  Margaret 
of  Arjou;  which  laft,  according  to  feveral  hiftori- 
ans,  commanded  at  no  lefs  than  twelve  pitched  bat- 
-tles.    But  we  do  not  clioofe  to  multiply  inilances  of 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  241 

this  nature,  as  we  have  already  faid  enough  to  fhew, 
that  the  lex  are  not  deftitute  of  courage  when  that 
virtue  becomes  neceflary ;  and  were  they  poffeffed 
of  it,  when  unnecefTary,  it  would  diveil  them  of  one 
of  the  principal  qualities  for  which  we  love^  and  for 
which  we  value  them.  No  woman  was  ever  held  up 
as  a  pattern  to  her  fex,  becaufe  fhe  was  intrepid  and 
brave ;  no  woman  ever  conciliated  the  affections  oi 
the  men,  by  rivaling  them  in  what  they  reckon  ths 
peculiar  excellencies  of  their  own  character. 


AS  the  Greeks  emerged  from  the  barbarity  of  the 
heroic  ages,  among  other  articles  of  culture,  tfiey  be- 
gan to  beftow  more  attention  on  the  converjence  and 
elegance  of  drefs.  At  Athens,  the  ladies  commonly 
employ  the  whole  morning  in  drefling  themfelvcs  in 
a  decent  and  becoming  manner ;  their  toilette  confift- 
ed  in  paints  and  wafhes,  of  fuch  a  nature  as  to  clea- 
and  beautify  the  ikin,  and  they  took  great  care  to 
clean  their  teeth,  an  article  too  much  neglefted :  fome 
alfo  blackened  their  eye-brows,  and,  if  neceffary,  fup- 
plied  the  deficiency  of  the  vermillion  on  their  lips, 
by  a  paint  faid  to  have  been  exceedingly  beautiful. 
At  this  time  the  women  in  the  Greek  ifiands  make 
muchufe  of  a  paint  which  they  call  Sulama,  which  im- 
parts a  beautiful  rednefs  to  the  cheecks,  and  gives  the 
ikin  a  remarkable  glofs.  Poflibly  this  may  be  the 
fame  with  that  made  ufe  of  in  the  times  we  are  con- 
fidering  ;  but  however  that  be,  foma  of  the  Greek  la- 
dies at  prefent  gild  their  faces  all  over  on  the  dav  of 
their  marriage,  an.tl  confider  this  coating  as  an  irre- 
fiftible  charm ;  and  in  the  ifland  of  Scios,  their  drefs 
does  not  a  little  refemble  that  of  ancient  Sparta,  for 
ihey  go  with   their  bofoms  uncovered,  and  v/ith 

Sowns  which  only  rearh  to  the  calf  of  their  leg,  in  or- 
er  to  fhew  their  fine  garters,  which  are  commonly 
red  ribbons  curioufly  embroidered.  But  to  return 
to  ancient  Gre;  '  ladies  fpent  likewife  a  part  of 
their  time  in  .  j;  head-dreffes,  and  though 

XXI 


242  SKETCHES  OF  the  S£X. 

we  have  reafon  to  fuppofe  th^it  they  were  no*  then  fo 
prepofteroufly  faniaftic  as  thofe  prcfenlly  compered 
by  a  Parifian  milliner,  yet  they  were  probably  ob- 
jeSis  of  no  fmall  induftry  end  attention,  efpecially  as 
we  find  that  they  then  dyed  their  hair,  perfumed  it 
with  the  moil:  coftly  eflences,  and  by  the  means  of 
hot  irons  difpofed  of  it  in  curls,  as  far.cv  or  fafhion 
directed.  Tneir  cbthes  were  nrda  cfftaffs  fo  ex- 
tremely light  and  fine  as  to  fhew  their  iliapes,  with- 
out offending  againli  ihe  rules  of  decency.  At  Spr.r- 
ta,  the  cafe  was  widely  different ;  we  ihall  not  c'e- 
fcribe  the  drefs  of  the  women,  it  is  fufficient  to  fay 
that  it  has  been  loudly  con  plained  of  by  almoft  ev- 
ery ancient  author  who  has  treated  on  the  fuhjeft. 

From  what  has  now  been  related  it  appears, 
that  the  women  of  antiquity  were  not  lefs  fol  citcus 
about^  their  perfons  than  the  moderns,  and  that  the 
materials  for  decorating  them,  were  neither  fo  few, 
nor  fo  fimple,  as  has  been  by  fome  imagined ;  fafts 
which,  in  t-^e  review  of  the  Romans,  will  appear  uiil 
more  conrpicuous.  In  the  more  enrly  periods  of  that 
great  rcpublx,  the  Romans,  in  th;»ir  perfons  as  well 
as  in  their  manners,  were  fimple  and  unadorned;  we 
Ihall,  therefore,  pafs  over  the  attire  of  thefe  times,  and 
confine  our  obfervations  to  thofe  when  the  wealth 
of  the  v/hole  world  centered  within  the  walls  of 
Home. 

The  Roman  ladles  went  to  bathe  in  the  morning^, 
and  from  thence  returned  to  the  tci'ette,  where  wo- 
men of  rank  and  fcriune  had  a  ni  mber  of  flaves  to 
attend  on  and  do  ev^ry  thing  for  them*  wh  le  them- 
felves,  looking  conflantly  in  their  glaffes,  praNStifed 
various  attitudes,  ftudied  ihe  airs  of  neglige  ce,  the 
fmiles  that  beft  brcame  th-^-m,  and  direfted  tie  plac- 
ing of  every  lock  of  the  ha'r,  and  every  part  of  the 
head-dreft.  Coquettes,  ladies  of  morofe  temper, 
and  thofe  whofe  chorms  had  n^t  at- rafted  fo  much 
no'-ice  as  they  expr-fted,  often  blamed  tae  flaves  who 
dreff.d  them  for  this  want  of  fuccets ;  and  if  we  may 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  24^ 

believe  Juvenal,  fom^times  chaftifed  tnem  fcr  it  with 
the  moft  uateeliug  leverity.  At  firft,  the  mdids  who 
attended  the  toilette  were  to  allift  in  adjuftiug  every 
part  of  the  drefs,  but  afterwards  each  had  her  proper 
taik  allig  -ed  her ;  one  had  the  combing,  curling,  and 
drefling  of  the  hair;  another  managed  the  purfumes ; 
a  third  difp^fed  of  the  jewels,  as  fancy  or  fufhion 
direfted  ;  a  fourth  laid  on  the  paint  and  cofmetics  :^ 
all  thele,  and  feveral  others,  had  names  exprefiive  of 
their  different  empl:yments;  but  befides  thefe, 
wh'.^fe  buiintfs  it  was  to  put  their  hands  to  the  labour 
of  the  toilette,  there  weie  others,  who,  acting  in  a 
ftation  moreex:ilttd,  only  attendedltogive  their  opir- 
ion  and  advice,  to  declare  wlvAt  CO  ours  moft  fuitcJ 
the  complexion,  and  what  method  of  drellmg  gave 
the  greateft  additional  Uiftre  to  the  charms  of  nature. 
To  this  important  counc'.l  of  the  toilette  we  have  no 
account  of  the  male  fex  being  ever  admitted ;  this  ufe- 
fni,  though  perhaps  indelicate  invention  was  referved 
for  the  ladies  of  Pr.ris,  who  wifely  confidering,  that  as 
'1  ifs  only  for  the  men,  the  men  muft  be  the  befc 
of  what  will  pleafe  themfelves. 

BUr  the  difpofirg  of  the  hair  in  various  forms 
and  figures  ;  the  interweaving  it  with  ribbon?,  jewels, 
and  gold;  were  not  the  only  methods  they  nvd^.e  ule 
of  to  make  it  agreeabb  to  trftt;;  light  coloured  h:::r 
had  the  preference  of  all  ethers;  both  men  and  wo- 
men therefore  dyed  ih^-ir  hair  of  this  colour,  then  per- 
fume 1  it  with  fwe-t-fcented  eff-nces,  and  powdered 
it  with  gold  dud;  a  cuftom  of  the  highelt  extnivc- 
gance,  which  the  Romans  brought  from  Afia,  and 
which,  according  to  Jolcphu?,  was  praftifed  among 
the  Jews.  White  hair-powder  was  net  the:i  invented, 
Dor  did  the  ufe  of  it  co:r.e  into  fafh'on  till  towards 
t^.e  end  of  tlie  fixteentn  century;  the  firft  writer  who 
niennons  it  is  LT.t'^ile,  wlio  relates,  that  in  the  year 
;3,  the  Nuns  walked  the  (Ireets  of  Paris  curled 
^-.J  powdered;  from  that  time  the  cuftom  of  pow^- 


244  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

dering  has  become  fo  common,  that  in  moft  places  of 
i^urope,  but  eipecialiy  in  France,  it  is  uled  by  both 
lexes,  and  by  people  of  all  ages,  ranks  and  condi- 
tions. 


^^:^^. 


CHAR    LXVI. 


CrcciiiH  and  Spartan  Indecency — Cruelty   of  the   Greciaft 
IViimen* 


^^N  a  preceding  chapter  we  have  obferve.%  that, 
during  the  v/hcle  of  \vh;it  are  called  the  heroic  ages, 
ine  hiftory  of  Greece  is  nothing  but  a  compound  of 
the  mcft  abfurd  fable ;  from  that  fable  it  however 
r^ppears,  that  their  gods  and  men  employed  mucn  of 
their  time  and  ingenuity  in  feducng,  Healing,  and 
forcibly  debauching  their  young  women,  circumftan- 
ces  wbich  naturally  fuggelt  an  idea  that  thofe  wo- 
men who  could  not  be  obtained  by  any  other  means 
muft  have  been  virtuous ;  nor  indeed  dees  it  appear 
that  they  v/ere  then  much  lefs  fo  than  in  thofe  fuc- 
ceeding  periods,  when  the  Greeks  Jflourifhed  in  all 
their  fplendor,  and  were  reckoned  a  highly  polifhed 
people ;  nay,  they  were  perhaps,  mere  fo,  for  infant 
colonies  and  kingdoms  commonly  difplay  more  virtue 
than  thofe  already  arrived  at  maturity  ;  the  reafon  is 
plain,  the  firft  have  not  yet  attained  riches,  the  four- 
ces  cf  idlenefs  and  debauchery,  the  lafthave  attained 
them.,  and  are  corrupted.  But  the  Greeks,  even  in 
the  infancy  of  their  exigence  as  a  people,  feem  to  have 
been  remarkably  vicious,  for  we  hardly  meet  wiih  any 
thing  in  their  early  hittory  but  murder,  rapes,  and 
ufurpations  ;  witnefs  the  tranfaftions  of  the  kingdorn 
of  Mycene,  of  Pelops,  and  his  defendants.  The 
rapes  of  lo,  Proferpine,  Helena,  &c.  all  of  which 
itaia  the  charaftsr  of  their  gods  and  men  with  the 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  24i 

fouieft  infamy  ;  and  as  it  has  never  happened  in  any 
nation  that  the  o.-e  fex  has  been  exceedingly  vicious, 
and  the  other  noL  participated  of  its  crimes,  we  may 
conclude  that  the  Greek  women  were,  in  the  heroic 
ages,  far  from  being  famous  for  r.ny  of  the  moral 
vir:ues.  The  greatell  part  cf  the  Grecian  princes 
who  affembled  at  the  fiege  cf  Troy,  were  guilty  of 
many  of  the  moft  enormous  crimes,  while  their  wives, 
not  lefs  flagitious,  murdered  almoft  the  whole  of  them 
after  their  return ;  a  thing  nearly  incredible,  when 
we  confider  that  in  thofe  times  culicm  had  condemned 
th«  wife  who  had  loft:  a  hulband  to  perpetual  wid- 
owhood ;  but  even  cuftom,  though  often  more  re- 
garded than  all  the  laws  of  heaven  and  earth,  muft  in 
time  yield  to  a  general  corrup  ion  of  manners. 

But  to  proceed  to  times  of  which  we  are  better 
informed.  The  women  of  other  nations  were  inde- 
cent through  the  ftrength  of  their  ungoverable  paf- 
ficns  ;  fome  of  the  Greek  women  were  obliged  to  be 
mdecent  by  law.  In  Sparla,  what  virtue,  what  de- 
corum can  we  expect,  when  even  the  firocgrfl  temp- 
tations to  vice  had  the  public  fanftion  cf  the  legifla- 
ture  ?  In  the  heroic  ages,  while  ignorance  and  bru- 
tality of  manners  prevailed,  we  are  not  much  fur- 
prifed  to  find  the  women  conducting  the  men  to  the 
baths,  undrefEng  them,  and  attending  to  drefs  and 
rub  them  when  they  came  out ;  but  in  Sparta,  famed 
for  its  frJutary  laws,  and  when  Greece  was  in  its 
u  ed  condition,  we  are  amazed  to  find  that 

be  _    reforteJ  to,  and  bathed  together  in  the 

public  baths.  And  this  amazement  is  ftill  heightened, 
"when  we  are  afliired  that  here  aUb  plays  were  adled 
by  order  of  the  legiflatcr,where  young  people  of  both 
fexcs  were  obliged  to  fight,  and  to  dance  naked  on 
.the  flage,  that  the  men,  acccrding  to  his  ideas,  might 
*  '  v  excited  to  matrimony.    What  were  the 

s  cf  the  indeencies  we  have  now  men- 
uoncJ. :    1      ■         'on  of  Lycurgus,  if  he  really  had 
any  luchiL.       ,     was  but  little  attend;::d  to,  and 
XXI  % 


246      .       SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

it  is  agreed  on  all  hands,  that  both  faxes  went  to  thofc 
plays  only  for  the  fake  of  debauchery  ;  and  further, 
that,  difgufted  by  this  Ihamelefs  expofure,  the  men 
paid  lefs  regard  to  the  women,  and  the  women  be- 
came lefs  virtuous,  and  at  laft  grew  diifolute  to  fuch 
.a  degree  as  to  be  thereby  diftinguifhed  from  all  the 
other  women  of  Greece.  Euripides,  and  fome  oth- 
ers of  the  Greek  authors,  beftow  upon  them  epithets 
which  decency  will  not  allow  us  to  tranflate,  nor 
were  thefe  epithets  the  overflowings  of  the  gall  of 
latyric  poets  and  violent  declaimers  only,  but  the 
cool  and  ccnfiderate  reflexions  of  the  imparlial  hif- 
torian ;  but  we  would  not  be  underftood  as  altogeth- 
er confinmg  diflblutenefs  and  debauchery  to  the  v/o- 
men  of  Sparta,  thofe  of  many  of  the  other  ttates 
were  little  inferior  to  them.  In  Thracia  and  Boeotia, 
they  every  third  year  held  a  fefiival  in  memory  of 
the  expedition  of  Bacchus  into  India,  at  which  both 
m^arried  women  and  virgins,  with  javelins  in  their 
hands  and  difhevelied  hair,  ran  about  like  furies  bel- 
lowing the  praifes  of  the  god,  and  committing  ev- 
ery diforder  fuggefted  by  madnefs  and  felly. 

Wherever  public  prcftituticn  becomes  fo  fafh- 
ionaVle  that  it  is  attended  with  no  di^race  in  the 
opinion  cf  the  male^  and  with  exceedingly  little  ia 
that  of  the  feiTiale  ffx,  there,  we  may  affure  our- 
felves,  the  morals  of  the  women  are  h'ghly  contami- 
nated ;  a  eircumiiance  of  v/hich  Athens  ?.ffcrded  the 
moft  glaring  proof.  In  that  city  ccurtezans  were 
not  only  kept  in  a  public  m.anner  by  raoft  of  the 
young  men  of  faihion,  but  greatly  countenanced, 
and  even  publicly  vifited  by  Solon  their  lawgiver, 
who  apphuided  fuch  young  m.en  as  were  fcu^nd  ia 
the  ftews,  becaufe  their  gvoiiig  to  thefe  places  render- 
ed them  lefs  apt  to  attempt  the  virtce  of  modeft  wo- 
men. But  Athenian  courtezins  were  not  only  vifit- 
ed  by  their  great  lawgiver,  but  nlfo  by  the  celebra- 
te ^  Srcrates,  and  mofl oiF  their  other  philofcphers,who, 
not  content  with  going  frequently  to  fee  them  them- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX,  247 

felves,  even  fometinaes  carried  their  wives  and  daugh- 
ters along  with  them ;  a  circumltance  of  which  we 
do  not  recollect  to  have  heard  in  any  other  country,  . 
and  which  could  not  but  tend  to  give  theCe  wives  a  mean 
opinion  of  virtue,  when  they  faw  the  preference  that 
was  given  to  vice ;  and  wnen  fuch  of  their  own  kx 
as  thus  publicly  deviate.^  from  the  paths  Of  chaflity 
were  fo  openly  efteemed  and  regarded,  it  was  natural 
for  thofe  of  a  diiFerent  charafter  to  pay  the  lets  re- 
gard to  that  chaftity,  the  praftifmg  of  which  gained 
them  no  fuperior  privilege  nor  advantage. 

AS  the  female  form  is  of  a  fofter  and  more 
delicate  nature  than  that  of  the  male,  fo  their  minds 
are  generally  more  finely  attuned  to  the  gentler  feel- 
ings cf  tend^rnefs  and  humanity ;  but  the  Grecian 
women,  either  by  nature,  or  more  probably  by  cuf- 
tom,  were  in  this  refpeft  miferably  deficient.  At  aa 
annual  feftival,  celebrated  in  honour  of  Diana,  all 
the  chii  Iren  of  Sparta  were  whipt  till  the  bloDd  ran 
down  en  the  altar  of  the  goddefs.  Under  t  is  cruel 
ceremony,  which  was  inflifted,  as  they  pretended, 
to  ccuftom  them  to  bear  pain  v/ithout  murmuring, 
fome  alm<)ft  every  year,  txpired.  The  inhuman 
barbarity  was  performed  in  the  prefence  of  the  whole 
citv  ;  the  f arh'-rs,  and  what  our  female  readers  will 
Y  1  the  mothers,  beholding  their  chil- 

c  od,  and  rea(!y  to  expire  with  pain, 

exhorting  than  to  fuller  the  number  of  lafhes 

.  ^  ed  them,  wifhout  a  groan  or  a  coraphinr.    It 
nay  oe  alkgd  rere,  that  women  being  fpeftators 

.A  ^T..-  urg  rs  of  a  cruel  ceremony,  is  no  proof  of 
'  of  proper  fe/iini'S,  ^uit  only  an  inftanceof 
ii;c  T)  v.Li'  of  ciift-^in.     A  d(r<ftrine  to  which  we  can- 
not iilt'  y^tih-Y  :  llent,  b-  ing  perluaded,  that  there  are 
m:my  of  1  x,  of  a  compofitirn  fo  humane  and 

tenJer,  ih  uflom  could  not  reconcile  them  ta 

barbarity  ;  L  n^  it  to  have  thatp^wer,  what 

folly  were  the ..     ^    xiy  of  in  iallitutin;^  fuch  a  cere- 


248  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

mony  !  they  were  robbing  the  woi^ien  of  every  thing 
valuable  in  the  female  mind,  and  iabouring  to  make 
them  what  they  were  not  intended  to  be  by  nature. 

But  this  inhuman  cuftom  was  not  the  only  proof 
that  the  Greek  women  were  divefced  of  that  female 
tendernefs  which  we  fo  much  admire  in  the  fex. 
There  was  in  Greece  a  cuftom,  if  poilible,  (till  more 
barbarous  ;  as  foon  as  a  boy  was  born  at  Sparta,  he 
was  vifi  ed  by  a  deputation  of  the  elders  of  each 
tribe  ;  if  he  appeared  to  be  of  a  weakly  conllitution, 
and  not  Hkely  to  become  a  ftout  and  healthful  mem- 
ber of  their  liate,  they  judged  him  not  to  be  worth 
the  trouble  of  rearing  ;  and  therefore  ordered  him 
to  be  thrown  into  a  quagmire,  at  the  bottom  of  the 
Mountain  Taygeta.  This  was  valuing  human  be- 
ings, exaftly  as  we  would  do  an  ox  or  an  afs ;  and 
entirely  fetting  afide  all  the  moral  turpitude  of  mur. 
der.  It  was  only,  however  praftifed  at  Sparta  ;  and 
we  fhould  have  hoped,  that,  even  there,  it  was  con- 
trary to  the  inclination,  and  without  the  confent  of 
the  women  ;  were  we  not  allured  by  a  variety  of 
authors  that  the  Spartan  dames,  in  every  circum- 
ftance,  almcft  entirely  governed  their  hufbands.  To 
the  barbarous  cuftorns  now  mentioned,  we  fhall  add 
only  one  more  :  To  fo  weak  and  expiring  a  ftate 
was  the  paternal  inftinft  of  nature  reduced  among 
the  Greeks,  that  they  frequently,  as  we  have  already 
related,  expofed  fuch  children  as  they  were  not  able, 
or  did  not  chufe  to  maintain.*  A  barbarity,  which, 
more  or  lefs,  prevailed  in  all  the  Grecian  ftates  ;  ex- 
cept at  Thebes,  a  city,  v/here,  to  the  immortal  hon- 
or of  the  inhabitants,  it  was  fo  much  abhorred,  that, 
by  their  laws,  it  was  capitally  punifhed.  We  fhail 
finifh  this  fuh)jeft,  by  obferving,  that  the  Sp?rtaa 
matrons  received  the  news.of  iheir  fons  having  been 
flain  in  battle, not  only  without  any  figns  of  gri-f, 
but  even  with  an  appearance  of  extravagant  joy  and 

*  Though  the  Greeks  might  expofe  infants,  they  could  not   fs^  a 
dai/^hisr,  or  a  filler,  urJefs  Ike  became  a  whores 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  249 

fatlsfaftion,  whic^  they  took  the  moft  early  oppor- 
tuaity  of  Ihewicg  in  public.  Thofe  fame  women, 
however,  who  pretended  to  have  imbibed  fo  much 
hercifra,  that  they  were  flrangers  to  every  fear,  but 
fuch  as  arcfe  on  account  of  their  country,  when  they 
faw  Epaminondas,  after  the  battle  of  Leuftra,  march- 
ing his  victorious  army  towards  wSparta,  teftified  by 
their  behavior,  that  they  were  fubjeft  to  fears  of 
another  nature  ;  and  that  all  tiieir  joys  and  forrows 
arofe  cot  foiely  from  the  profperity  or  adverfity  of 
their  country.  They  ran  up  and  down  the  ttreets 
in  terror  and  defpair,  filling  the  air  with  fhrieks, 
and  transfuiing  cheir  own  timidity  into  the  men, 
caufed  more  diibrder  than  the  approach  of  the  vic- 
torious army* 


stfSmn^^ 


CHAP.    LXVIL 

Drunkennefs  of  feme  Grecian  Women — St(^ry  of  Lucreiu 
Indecency  of  Roman  JVomen^-^Indcccncy  of  Savage  JVa- 
tions* 

VV  HEN  we  come  to  the  hiftory  of  the  matrimo- 
cial  compaft,  we  Ihall  fee  how  the  Grecian  womea 
beh.ived  to  tlieir  hufbands  ;  and  fliall  at  prefent  fumi 
up  the  reft  cf  their  character,  by  obferving,  that  at 
Athens,  even  drunkennefs  feems  to  have  been  among 
the  number  of  their  vices ;  as  is  evident  by  a  law  or 
Solon,  in  which  it  is  enafted,  that  no  woman  Ihall 
be  attended  by  more  than  one  fervant  when  fhe  goes 
abroad,  unltfs  when  fhe  is  drunk.  It  would  feem 
that  the  Athenian  women  alfo  made  ufe  of  the  dark- 
nefs  of  the  night  to  fcreen  them  in  their  intrigues  ; 
for  another  law  of  Solon  ordaios,  that  no  woman 
fhall  walk  abroad  at  night,  unlefs  fhe  intends  to  play 
the  whore ;  and  from  feveral  other  ordinances  of 


250  vSKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

this  Icgiflatcr,  it  plainly  appears,  'i;at  to  keep  women 
within  the  bounds  of  thnt  decorum  proper  to  their 
fex,  was  a  matter  of  no  fmall  difficiiky ;  for,  to  the 
laws  we  have  juft  n^^w  mentioned,  he  was  obr.ged  to 
add  others,  which  fhew  that  the  lex  were  only  to  be 
goveriied  by  coercive  meafures.  He  ordained,  that 
no  woman  fhculd  go  cut  of  the  city  with  mere  pro- 
vifions  th' n  cculd  be  purchafed  for  an  obelus,  nor 
with  a  balket  higher  than  a  cubit ;  and  if  a  woman 
went  abroad  at  night,  (he  was  to  be  carried  in  a  wag- 
gon, preceded  by  a  flambeau  :  from  all  which  it 
leems  evident,  that  the  defign  of  Solon  was  to  make 
the  Athenian  women  decent  and  virtuous.  If  Ly- 
cargus  had  the  feme  intention  in  the  laws  that  he 
gave  the  Lacevfemonians,  we  cannct  help  thinking 
that  he  had  but  ill  ftudied  human  nature  ;  for  as  a 
learned  author  of  the  prefent  age  has  obferved, 
though  nakednefs  of  both  fexes  is  no  incentive  to 
iuft,  and  though  the  inhabitants  of  countries  where 
no  cloaths  are  ufed,  are  not  on  this  account  lefs  virtu- 
ous than  their  neighbors,  where  they  are  ufed,  yet 
there  may  be  modes  of  cloathing  which  more  power- 
fully excite  the  p.ffions,  than  the  m.oft  abfolure  na- 
kednefs. Of  this  kind,  in  our  opinion,  was  the  drefs 
of  Sparta.  We  fhall  have  cccafion  afterward  to 
defcribe  it,  and  at  prefent  ffiall  only  obferve,  that  it 
has  been  excl.imed  ^giinfl:  by  a  variety  of  the  wri- 
ters cf  antiquity. 

THOUGH  fuch  is  the  general  charafler  of  the 
Greeks,  we  have  hnppily  no  indarce  of  a  corruption 
of  manners  havicg  fpread  iifelf  over  a  whole  nation, 
in  fuch  a  mani^er  as  to  leave  nobody  free  frcm  the 
contagion.  In  the  midft  of  licentioufnefs  and  bar- 
barity, at  leaft  in  thofe  periods,  that  were  fubfequent 
to  the  fiege  of  i'roy,  tr  e  Grecian  women  afford  us 
feveral  irftances  of  chaftity,  conjugal  fidelity,  and 
maternal  aifeftion.  In  the  heroic  ages,  or  thoie  pe- 
riods when  their  ftates  were  in  infancy,  they  appear 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  SEX.  251 

to  have  been  abandoned  almoft  to  every  fpecies  of 
wickednefs ;  but  when  we  turn  to  the  Romans,  we 
find  the  caie  quite  otherwife.  In  the  earlier  periods 
of  the  Roman  republic,  before  the  wealth  poured  in 
from  innumerable  conquelts,  had  introduced  luxury 
and  diflipation,  no  women  were  more  famous  for  their 
virtues,  none  more  in'amous  afterward  for  their  vices. 
The  whvile  hiftory  of  Rome,  for  feveral  ages  after 
its  fouiidation,  be3rs  teftimony  to  the  tendernefs, 
frugality,  and  cha.'lity  of  her  women.  Of  this  noth- 
ing can  be  a  (Ironger  proof,  than  the  long  period  that 
intervened  between  t  le  foundation  of  the  republic 
and  the  firft  divorce  ;  a  period  of  five  hundred  and 
twenty  years,  though  the  men  had  a  power  of  divor- 
cing  their  wives  almoft  at  pleafure.  To  this  proof 
we  could  add  a  great  variety  of  others,  but  (hall  on- 
ly mention  the  ilory  of  the  rape  of  Lucretia,  which 
in  the  ftrongeft  m.mner  dem':^nftrates  the  value  which 
the  Roman  women  fet  upon  the  m:ft  unfp  tted  chaf- 
tity.  Lucretia,  being  violated  in  fecrer,  could  not 
have  found  the  fra.dleft  difficulty  in  concealing  what 
had  happened  ;  and  befider.,  fhouli  it  have  been  dif- 
covered,  the  fraud  and  force  made  ufe  of  againll  her 
were  fulricient  to  have  qu  eted  h.  r  confcience,  and 
exculpated  her  to  her  hufband  and  the  publx  from 
e/ery  imputation  of  rrimin?.]ity :  yet,  fo  exalted 
were  her  ideas  of  cha  .ity,  that  fhe  was  r^^C  Ived  not 
to  give  back  to  the  arms  of  her  !  ulbaud,  a  body  ev- 
en involuntarily  pollute  1,  n^r  ''o  furvive  thegu'ltlefs 
fiain  which  her  honor  h  id  fuft'ered  ;  but  calling  to- 
gether her  frien  is  in  the  prefence  of  her  hulbaiia,  fhe 
revealed  to  them  the  fecr.  t  of  the  rape  that  l.ad  been 
comnnitted  upoi  her  ;  an  J  w'^ih^  conjuring  them  to 
revenge  her  i.:jured  name,  fhe  ft  ibb  d  herf  If  in  the 
bre.ift  with  a  dagger  fhe  had  concealed  under  her 
garments  for  that  piirp-^fe. 

COURTS  are  but  too  frequently  the  femina- 
riei  of  vice.    This  was  evidently  the  cafe  at  Rome. 


252  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

Theemprefles  generally  took  the  lead  in  lawlefs  in- 
dulgence ;  the  example  cf  the  great  is  commonly  fol- 
lowed by  the  little :  from  the  court,  a  fcene  of  the 
moil  (hamelefs  libertinifm,  hardly  to  be  paralleled  in 
hiflory,  diffeminated  itfelf  all  over  Rome.  Women 
danced  naked  on  the  fcage,  bathed  promifcuoufly 
With  the  men,  and,  with  more  than  mafculine  ef- 
frontery, committed  every  fort  of  irregularity.  By 
the  unbounded  licence  thus  given  to  unlawful  plea- 
fures,  matrimony  became  unfafhionable,  and  was 
confidered  as  a  confinement  andaburden,  not  confift- 
ent  with  Roman  freedom  and  independence.  To 
thefe  ideas  alfo  the  conduft  of  the  married  women 
did  not  a  little  contribute,  and  raifed  in  the  hufbands 
fuch  a  difguft  at  marriage,  that  even  Metellus  the 
Cenfor,  who  ought  to  have  been  theproteftor  of  that 
inftitution,  made  the  following  fpeech  to  the  people 
againfi;  it :  "  If  it  were  p.^frible  for  us  to  do  without 
wives,  we  fhould  deliver  ourfelves  from  this  evil ;  but 
as  nature  has  ordained,  that  we  cannot  live  very  hap- 
pily with  them,  nor  without  them,  we  ought  to  have 
more  regard  to  our  ov/n  prefervation,  than  to  tran- 
fient  gratifications."  Rome  is  the  only  place  that 
ever  furr-ifhed  an  inftance  of  a  general  confpiracy 
among  the  married  women  to  poilbn  their  hufbands. 
A  varletv  of  laws  were  from  time  to  time  de- 
vifed  by  the  Romans  to  Hop  the  progrefs  cf  public 
proilitution.  AmoDg  others  it  was  ordained,  that 
all  courtezans  fhould  take  out  a  licence  from  the  court 
of  the  -ZEdiles  ;  ^which  they  fk-^uld  renew  once  every 
year,  and  without  which  they  fhould  not  be  aliowecl 
to  carry  on  their  trade  ;  that  their  names,  and  the 
price  of  their  favours,  fhoiild  be  wrote  upon  the 
doors  of  their  houfes.  Theie,  one  would  have  ima- 
gined, were  fuch  condidons  as  no  women  who  had 
the  leafl,  remaining;  fp-^rk  of  fenfibility  would  have 
.  agreed  to.  But  the  torrent  of  vice  was  not  to  be 
flopped  fo  eafily :  women,  who  were  wives  and 
daughters  to  Roman  kniglits,  were  not  afliaraed  to 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  2^3 

apply  for  fuch  licences ;  and  the  infection  was  even 
reaching  higher.  Viftilia,  a  lady  of  a  Prx*toriaa 
^".Tiily,  with  an  unparalleled  effrontery  appeared  in 
blic  court  before  the  iEdiles,  and  declaring  herfelf 
a  proflitute,  demanded  a  licence  to  enable  her  to  ex- 
crcife  her  trade.  Debauched  as  the  Romans  then 
were,  under  a  prince  fo  dillblute  as  1  iberius,  their 
tears  were  alarmed  ;  and  the  fenate  enacted  feveral 
laws  to  relirain  at  leaft  women  of  rank  from  degrading 
themfelves  and  families  by  a  conduct  ib  infamous : 
they  ordained,  no  woman  whofe  father,  p^randfuher, 
or  huiband,  was  a  Roman  knight,  or  of  any  higher 
quail ty,{houid  beallov/edto  take  upon  her  the  trade  of 
proltitution.  The  debauchery  of  the  women  was 
aifo  the  occafion  of  the  Voconian  law,  which  wehavs 
already  mentioned ;  but  when  corruption  had  inter- 
woven iifelf  fo  dexteroudy  into  the  manners  and 
cuiloms  of  the  Romans,  laws  became  loo  feeble  to 
bring  on  a  reformation.  The  emperor  Titus  pro- 
hibited all  public  ftews  :  the  prohibition  was  but  lit- 
tle regarded.  When  Severns  mounted  the  throne, 
he  ibund  on  the  roll  of  caufes  to  be  tried^  no  lefs 
thai>  three  thoufand  profecutions  for  adultery :  he 
had  fr^rmed  a  fcheme  of  reformation ;  from  that  mo- 
ment he  abandoned  it  as  imDoffible. 


IN  favage  life,  female  delicacy  has  no  exigence : 
the  moft  abfolute  nakednefs  raifes  not  a  blufh ;  nor 
can  any  ad'on  excite  the  idea  of  ihame  :  and  as  chaf- 
tity  itlelf  has  not,  in  many  places^,  the  lame  value 
ftampc^  upon  it  as  in  civil  fociety,  deviari.  ns.from  it 
are  either  cc^r.fidered  as  no  fault,  or  at  molt  as  a  fault 
of  a  very  trifling  nature,  whicli  neither  draws  down 
on  a  dehnquent  the  ridicule  and  contempt  of  her  own 
fex,  nor  the  negleft  and  defertion  of  our§.  The  in- 
fi  .  ^^  could  give  of  this  would  be  almoft  endlefs. 
;-  the  Natrhcs,  liuibands  voluntarily  lend  their 
v.  '      '        and  married  as  well  as  unniar- 

riv. .      .u  the  leaft  ceremony,  ofierthem- 

XXII 


2^4  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

fqlves  to  flrangors ;  nay,  in  loim  places,  they  evea 
complain  to  their  ccuntryinen,  and  delire  them  to 
revenge  the  indignity  they  have  fuftereJ,  when  re- 
fufed  by  a  ftranger.  la  the  diftrift  of  the  Hurons, 
not  the  leaft  degree  of  criminality  is  fixed  upon  her 
wh.o  offers  herfelf  to  proilitution  :  it  is  ^  praftice, 
into  which  girls  are  e:irly  initiated  by  their  parents, 
and  in  which  the  cuttom  of  ti  eir  country  continues 
them  through  Ufe.  In  many  parts  of  South  Ameri- 
ca, fo  little  reftraint  is  laid  on  the  commerce  of  the 
i^^xes^  that  it  plainly  appears  to  be  confidered  as  an 
objeft  not  worthy  of  legillation.  Don  UUoa  re- 
ports, that  the  ancient  Peruvians  did  not  knowingly 
rf)arry  fuch  women  as  were  virgins,  and  if  on  trial 
they  found  them  luch,  were  highly  affronted  at  be- 
ing impcfed  upon  :  and  it  is  faid,  that  in  the  kingdom 
of  Thibet,  no  w^oman  who  has  not  been  deflowered 
is  reckoned  fit  for  matrimony. 

The  Brazillian  women  are  fo  far  from  paying 
any  regard  to  chafiity,  that  they  even  violate  every 
principle  of  decency  ;  not  being  in  the  leaft  afhamed 
to  prepare  and  adminifter  to  the  men  ttimulating  po- 
tions, to  create  or  irxreafe  their  natural  defires ; 
which  when  they  wifh  to  raife  to  an  extravagant 
height,  the  p;^tions  fometimes  prove  mortal.  At 
Mindanao,  as  foon  as  a  flranger  arrives,  the  natives 
fleck  about  him,  and  eagerly  iavire  him  to  their 
houfes  :  the  peribn  whofe  invitation  he  accepts,  is 
fure  to  offer  him  a  female  companion,  whom  he  is 
obliged  to  accept,  and  to  return  a  genteel  prefent  for 
the  unfoliciied  favour.  This  cuftom,  which,  befides 
implying  an  abfclute  2nd  diipofing  power  in  the 
male,  likewife  fuppofes  female  unchaftiry  to  be  a  mat- 
ter of  noconfidera'ion,  is  obierved  at  PuloCondore, 
Pegu,  Siam,  Cochin-China,  Cambodia,  in  fomepla* 
ces  of  the  Eaft-Indies,  and  on  the  coail  of  Guinea. 
In  Otaheite,  chaftity  does  not  feem  to  be  confidered 
as  one  of  the  virtues,  nor  is  themcfl  pubUc  violation 
of  it  looked  upon  either  as  criminal  or  indecent.  The 


SKETCHES  ©F  THE  SEX.  255 

women  not  only  readily  and  openly  trafficked  with 
tlie  Englilli  failors  for  peribnal  favours,  but  were^ 
brought  by  their  fathers  and  brothers  for  that  pur- 
pofe,  as  to  a  market ;  and  tiiofe  who  brought  them 
were  always  abundantly  confcious  of  the  fuperior 
value  of  youth  and  beauty. 


=:^i;i2^= 


CHAP.    LXVIIL 


Naked  Fakiers — Mahoinetan  plurality  of  Wives — JFomen 
cf  Otahcite* 

i^O  different  over  all  the  world  are  the  fefts  of 
faints,  as  well  as  of  finnets,  that  befides  the  Bramins, 
a  fet  of  innocent  and  religious  priefls,  who  have  ren- 
dered their  women  virtuous  by  treating  them  with 
kindnefs  and  humanity,  there  are  another  feft  of  re- 
ligio-philofophical  drones,  called  Fakiers,  who  con- 
tribute as  much  as  they  can  to  debauch  the  fex,  un- 
der a  pretence  of  fuperior  fan<ftity.  'J'hefe  hypocriti- 
cal faints,  like  fome  of  the  ridiculous  fefts  which 
formerly  exiited  in  Europe,  wear  no  clothes  ;  conffd- 
ering  them  only  as  proper  appendages  to  finners,  who 
are  afhamed,  becaufe  f  ey  are  feniible  of  guilt ;  while 
thev,  being  free  from  every  ftaiii  of  pollution,  have 
no  fhame  to  cover.  In  this  original  (^ate  of  nature, 
thefe  idle  and  pretended  devotees,  aflemble  together 
fometimes  in  armies  often  or  twelve  thoufand,  and 
under  a  pretence  of  going  in  pilgrimage  to  certain 
temples,  like  locufts  devour  every  thing  on  their 
way  ;  the  men  flying  before  them,  and  carrying  all 
that  they  can  out  of  the  reach  of  their  depredations ; 
while  the  women,  not  in  the  leail  afraid  of  a  naked 
army  of  Xw'Xy  faints,  throw  th.^mfclves  in  their  way, 
or  remain  quietly  at  home  to  receive  them. 

It  has  long  been  an  opinion,  well  ellabliflied  all 


^^S^  SKETCHES  o>  the  SEX. 

over  Indi?.,  that  there  are  not  in  nature  fo  powerful  at 
remedy  fcr  removing  the  Iterility  of  women ,  as  the 
prayers  of  thefe  Iturdy  naked  faints.  On  this  ac- 
count, barren  women  conllantly  apply  to  them  for 
afiiftance  ^  which  when  the  good-natured  Fakier  has 
:^.ii  inchnation  to  grant,  he  leaves  his  flipper,  or  his 
<bff  at  the  door  of  the  lady's  apartment  with  whom 
tie  is  praying ;  a  fymbol  fo  facred,  that  it  efleftually 
prevents  any  one  from  violating  the  fecrecy  of  their 
devotion :  but,  fhould  he  forget  this  fignal,  and  at 
the  fame  time  be  diftant  from  the  protcftion  of  his 
brethren,  a  found  drubbing  is  frequently  the  reward 
of  h's  pious  endeiivor?.  But  though  they  will  ven- 
ture fom.etime?,  in  Hindoftan,  to  treat  a  Fakier  in 
this  unhciy  manner  ;  in  other  parts  of  Afia  anti  Afri- 
ca, foch  is  the  veneration  in  which  thefe  lufty  faints 
sre  held,  that  they  not  only  have  accefs  when  they 
plea!e,  to  perform  private  devotions  with  barren  v/Ch 
men,  but  are  accounted  fo  holy,  that  they  may  at 
any  time,  in  public  cr  in  private,  confer  a  perfonal 
favor  upon  a  woman,  without  bringing  upon  her 
either  fhame  or  guilt ;  and  no  woman  dare  refufe  to 
gratify  their  paffion.  Nor  indeed^  has  any  one  an 
inchnation  of  this  kind  ;  becaufe  fhe,  upon  ,  W'hom 
this  perfonal  favour  has  been  conferred,  is  confidered 
by  herfelf,  and  by  all  the  people,  as  having  been 
fanftined  and  made  more  holy  by  the  aftion. 

So  m.uch  concerning  the  conduct  of  the  Fakiers 
m  debauching  women,  feems  certain.  But  it  is  by 
travellers  further  related,  that  wherever  they  find  a 
woraanrwho  is  exceedingly  handfome,  they  carry  her 
off  privately  to  one  of  their  temples  ;  but  in  fuch  a 
manoer,  as  to  make  her  and  the  people,  believe,  that 
the  was  carried  away  by  the  god  who  is  there  wor- 
fhipped  ;  w^ho  being  violently  in  love  with  her  took 
tfiat  method  to  procure  her  fcr  his  wife.  This  done, 
i  hey  perform  a  nuptial  ceremony,  and  make  her  fur- 
ther believe,  that  fhe  is  married  to  the  god  ;  when, 
in  reality,  Ihe  is  only  married  to  one  of  the  Fakiers 


SKETCHES  or  the  SEX.  257 

who  perfonates  him.  Women  who  are  treated  in 
tills  manner  are  revered  by  the  people  as  the  wives 
of  the  gods,  and  by  that  itratagem  iecured  fclely  to 
the  Fakiers,  who  have  cunning  enough  to  impofe 
themfelves  ^s  g'ods  upon  ibme  of  thefe  women, 
through  the  whole  of  their  Uves.  In  countries  where 
reafon  is  ftronger  than  fuperirition,  we  ahnolt  think 
this  impoffiole :  where  the  contrary  is  the  cafe,  there 
is  nothing  too  hard  to  be  credited.  Something  like 
this  was  done  by  the  priefrs  of  ancient  Greece  and 
Rome  ;  and  a  few  centuries  ago,  tricks  of  the  fame 
nature  were  praftifed  by  the  monks,  and  ether  liber- 
tines, upon  fome  of  the  vifionary  and  enthufiaftic 
women  of  Europe.  Hence  we  need  net  think  it 
ftrange,  if  the  Fakiers  generally  fucceed  in  attempts 
of  this  nature;  when  we  consider,  that  they  only 
have  to  deceive  a  people  brought  up  in  the  moft  con- 
fummate  ignorance ;  and  that  nothing  can  be  a  more 
flattering  diftinftion  to  female  vanity,  than  for  a  wo- 
man to  fuppofe  herfelf  fuch  a  peculiar  favorite  of  the 
divinity  fhe  worfhips,  as  to  be  chofen,  from  all  her 
companions,  to  the  honor  of  being  admitted  to  hi.s 
embrrxes ;  a  favor,  v/hich  her  felf-admiration  will 
difpofie  her  more  readily  to  believe  than  examine. 

BUT  it  is  not  the  religicn  of  the  Hindoos  only, 
that  is  unfavorable  to  chaliity  ;  that  of  Mahomet, 
which  now  prevarls  over  a  great  part  of  India,  is  un- 
favorable to  it  likewife.  Mahometanifm  every  where 
indulges  the  men  with  a  plurality  of  wives,  while  it 
ties  down  the  won:en  to  the  ftrifteft  conjugal  fideliiy  ; 
hence,  while  the  men  riot  in  unlimited  variety,  the 
women  are  in  great  numt'crs  confined  to  fhare  among 
them  the  f*  vors  of  one  man  only.     This  un- 

natural ai:.  .  lie  conduft  in.'u^es  them  to  feek 

by  art  and  inirigue  what  they  are  denied  by  the  laws 
cr  their  prophet.  As  polyg'^my  prevails  over  all 
Ada,  this  art  ?nd  intrigue  follow  as  the  confequence 
of  it ;  fome  have  imagined,  that  it  is  the  relult  of 


258  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

climate,  but  it  rather  appears  to  be  the  refult  of  the 
injuitice  which  women  luffer  by  polygamy  ;  for  it 
feems  to  reign  as  much  in  Conltantinople,  and  in  ev- 
ery other  place  where  polygamy  is  in  faihion,  as  it 
does  on  the  banks  of  the  Ganges,  or  the  Indus.  The 
famous  Monteiquieu,  whofe  lyltera  was,  that  the 
paffions  are  entirely  regulated  by  the  climate,  brings 
as  a  proof  of  this  fyftem,a  ftory  from  the  coUeftion 
of  voyages  for  the  eftabhfhment  of  an  Eaft-lndia 
Company,  in  which  it  is  faid,  that  at  Patan,  "  the 
wanton  defires  of  the  women  are  fo  outrageous,  that 
the  men  are  obliged  to  make  ufe  of  a  certain  apparel 
to  fheker  them  from  their  defigns.'^  Were  this  fto- 
ry really  true,  ic  w^ould  be  but  a  partial  proof  of  the 
effeft  of  climate,  for  why  fhould  the  burning  funs  of 
Patan  only  influence  the  paflions  of  the  fair  ?  Why 
Ihould  they  there  tranfport  that  lex  beyond  decency, 
which  in  all  other  climates  is  the  molt  decent  ?  And 
:eave  in  fo  cool  and  defenfive  a  ftate,  that  fex,  which 
in  all  other  climates  is  apt  to  be  the  moft  ofienfive 
and  indecent  ?  To  whatever  length  the  fpirit  of  in- 
trigue may  be  carried  in  Afia  and  Africa,  however 
ihe  paflions  of  the  women  may  prompt  them  to  ex- 
cite defire,  and  to  throw  themfelves  in  the  way  of 
gratification,  v/e  have  the  ftrongeft  reafons  to  repro- 
bate all  thele  ftories,  which  would  make  us  believe, 
that  they  are  fo  loii:  to  decency  as  to  attack  the  other 
lex:  fuch  a  iyftem  would  be  overturning  nature,  and 
inverting  the  eltablilhed  laws  by  which  fhe  governs 
the  world. 


IN  Otahelte,  an  illand  lately  difcovered  in  the 
great  Southern  Ocean,  v/e  are  prefented  with  wo- 
men of  a  firgular  charafter.  As  far  as  we  can  recol- 
left,  we  tkink  it  is  a  pretty  general  rule,  that  where- 
ever  the  fex  ar^accuftomed  to  be  conftantly  clothed, 
they  are  afhamed  to  appear  naked  :  thofe  of  Otaheito 
feem  however  to  be  an  exception  to  this  rule  ;  to 
ilnew  themlUyes  in  public^  with  or  without  clothingir 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  259 

apears  to  be  to  them  a  matter  of  equal  indifference, 
and  the  expofition  of  any  part  of  their  bodies,  is  not 
attended  with  the  leaft  backwardnefs  or  reluctance  ; 
circumllances  from  which  we  may  reafonably  infer, 
that,  among  them,  clothes  were  not  originally  inven- 
ted to  cover  fhame,  but  either  as  ornaments,  or  as  a 
defence  againit  the  cold.  But  a  Hill  more  ftr iking 
Angularity  in  the  character  of  theie  women,  and 
which  diilinguifhes  them  not  only  from  the  females 
of  all  other  nations,  but  likewife  from  thofe  of  almcft 
all  other  animals,  is,  their  performing  in  public  thole 
rites,  which  in  every  other  part  of  the  globe,  and  al- 
moll  among  all  animals,  are  performed  in  privacy 
and  retirement :  whether  this  is  the  tiYect  of  inno- 
cence, or  of  a  diilolutenefs  of  manners  to  w^hich  no 
other  people  have  yet  arrived,  remains  ftill  to  be  dif- 
covered  ;  that  they  are  diffoiute,  even  beyond  any 
thing  we  have  hitherto  recorded,  is  but  too  certain. 
As  polygamy  is  not  allov/ed  among  them,  to  fatisfy 
the  luft  of  variety,  they  have  a  fociety  called  Arreoy, 
in  which  every  woman  is  common  to  every  man  ; 
and  when  any  of  thefe  women  happens  to  have  a 
child,  it  is  fmothered  in  the  moment  of  its  birth,  that 
it  may  not  interrupt  the  pleafures  of  its  infamous 
mother ;  but  in  this  junfture,  fhould  nature  relent  at 
fo  horrid  a  deed,  even  then  the  mother  is  not  allow- 
ed to  fave  her  child,  unlefs  fhe  can  find  a  man  who 
will  p  .tronife  it  as  a  father  ;  in  which  cafe,  the  man 
is  coniidered  as  having  appropriated  the  woman  to 
himfelf,  and  ii\e  is  accordingly  extruded  from  this 
hopeful  fjciety.  Thel'e  few  anecdotes  fufficicntiy 
charaft.-rife  the  women  cf  this  ifland.  In  ionie  of 
th-  ;u''  .at  ones,  which  were  vifited  by  his  Majef- 
ty  >,  ;  ;/s  upon  this  dilcovery,  if  the  women  were 
ii'jt  lefs  unchafle,  they  were  at  leaft  lefs  flagitious  and 
indelicate. 


260  SKETCHES  6F  THE  SEX. 

rj  CHAP.    tXIX. 

Italian  Debauchery — Female  Slanderers — Crirn.    Con.    of 
Claudius  and  Pompeia. 


I 


F  chaftity  is  none  of  the  moft  fhining  virtues  of 
the  French,  it  is  ftill  lefs  fo  of  the  Italians.  Almoft 
all  the  travellers  who  have  vifited  lialy,  agree  in  def- 
cribing  it  as  the  moll  abandoned  of  all  the  countries 
of  Europe.  At  Venice,  at  Naples,  and  indeed  in  al- 
moft every  part  of  Italy,  woraeQ  are  trrught  from 
theirinfancy,  the  various  art?  of  alluring  to  ti.eir  armsj 
the  young  and  unwary,  and  of  obtaining  from  tiiem, 
while  heated  by  love  or  wine,  every  thing  that  flat- 
tery and  falfe  imiies  €an  obtain  in  tncfe  unguarded 
moments;  and  fo  Uttle  infamous  is  tne  trade  of  profti- 
tution,  and  fo  venal  che  women,  t:  a  hardly  any  rank 
or  condition  fets  them  above  b^  ing  bri-^eci  tc  it,  nay,. 
they  are  frequently  affiRed  by  th<:ir  male  friends  and 
acquaintances  to  cirive  a  good  barg-^ir  ;  nor  does 
their  career  of  debauchery  finifn  w^.th  their  unmarri- 
ed ftate :  the  vows  cf  fideliiy  which  they  make  at 
the  altar,  are  hke  the  vows  and  oaths  made  upon  too 
many  other  occafions,  only  confidered  as  nugatory 
forms,  which  law  has  obi  ged  them  to  take,  but  cuf- 
tom  abfolved  them  from  p  rforming.  1  hey  even 
claim  and  eiijoy  greater  liberties  after  niarriage  than 
before ;  every  marri.  d  woman  has  a  cicifbeo,  or  gal- 
lant, v/ho  attends  her  to  ah  publ  c  pla:v^s,  h.inds  her 
ia  and  out  of  her  carriasje,  picks  up  her  gloves  or  f  i:d, 
and  a  thoufand  other  lirtle  offices  of  the  fame  na- 
ture ;  but  this  is  only  his  pu  lie  employment,  as  a 
reward  for  v/hich,  he  is  entiti:  d  to  have  the  lady  as 
often  as  he  ple?.fes  at  a  place  of  retirement  farred  to 
themfclves,  where  no  perlon,  n .  t  even  the  mcll  iiitru- 
five  hufband  muft  enter,  to  be  v/itnefs  of  what  paf- 
fes  between  them.     Tiiis  has  btea  confidered  by 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  261 

people  of  all  other  nations,  as  a  cuftom  not  altogeth- 
er confiftent  with  chafliiy  and  purity  cf  manners  ;  the 
Italians  themfelves,  however,  endeavor  to  juftify  it 
in  their  converlations  with  ftrangers,  and  Baretti  has 
of  late  years  publifhed  a  formal  vindication  of  it  to 
the  world.  In  this  vindication  he  has  not  only  de- 
duced the  original  of  it  from  pure  Platonic  love,  biit 
would  willingly  perfuade  us  that  it  is  ftill  continued 
upon  the  fame  mental  principles ;  a  doftrine  which 
the  world  will  hardly  be  credulous  enough  to  fwal- 
low,  even  though  he  fhculd  offer  more  conv'ncing  ar- 
guments to  fupport  it  than  he  has  already  done. 

THERE  is  amongft  us  another  female  charac- 
ter, not  uncommon,  which  we  denominate  the  out- 
rageoufly  virtuous.  Women  cf  this  fti^mp  never 
fail  to  {eize  all  opportunities  of  exckiming,  in  the  bit- 
tereft  manr.er,  againft  every  one  upon  whom  even 
the  flightell  fufpicion  of  indifcretion  or  unchaftity 
has  fallen ;  taking  care,  as  they  go  along,  to  magni- 
fy every  mole- hill  into  a  mountain,  and  every 
thoughtlefs  freedom  into  the  blackeft  of  crimes.  But 
befides  the  illibcrality  of  thus  treating  Inch  as  may 
frequently  be  innocent,  you  may  credit  us,  dear 
couPi  try  women,  when  we  aver,  that  fuch  a  behavior, 
inf^ead  of  making  you  appear  miore  virtuous,  only 
draws  down  upon  you,  by  thofe  who  know  the 
world,  fu^'picions  not  much  to  your  advantage.  Your 
fex  ?re  in  general  (ufpefted  by  ours,  of  being  too 
much  addifted  to  f^andal  and  defamation  ;  a  fufpic- 
ion, which  has  not  arifen  of  late  years,  as  we  find  ia 
the  ancient  law^^  cf  England  a  punifhment,  known  by 
the  name  of  chucking- ftool,  annexed  to  leading  and 
defamation  in  the  w^men,  rhrui?h  no  fuch  punifh- 
ment  nor  crime  is  taken  notice  of  in  the  men.  '1  bis 
crime,  however,  we  perfuade  ourfelves,  you  ?re  lefs 
guilty  of,  than  is  commonly  believed  :  but  there  is 
ancthfr  cf  a  n?tiTe  not  more  ex^ufabl^,  from  which 
we  cannot  lb  much  exculpate  you  ;  which  is,  that 


262  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

harfh  and  forbidding  appearance  you  put  on, 
that  ill-treatment,  which  you  no  doubt  think  necefla- 1 
ry,  for  the  iiluftration   of  your   own  virtue,  youf 
(hould  beftow  on  every  one  of  your  fex  who  has  de- J 
viated  from  the  path  of  reclilude.     A  behavior  of  j 
this  nature,  befides  being  fo  oppofite  to  that  meekj 
and  gentle  (pirit  which  fhould  diilinguifh  female  na- 
ture, is  in  every  refpefl:  contrary  to  the  charitablel 
and  forgiving  temper  of  the  Chrillian  religion,  and 
infallibly  fhuts  the  door  of  repentance  againil  an  un- 
fortunate fitter,  willing,  perhaps,  to  abandon  the 
vices  into  which  heedlefs  inadvertency  had  plunged 
her,  and  from  which  none  of  you  can  promife  your- 
felves  an  abfolute  fecurity. 

We  wifh  not  fair  countrywomen,  like  the  de- 
claimer  and  fatirifl:,  to  paint  you  all  vice  and  imper- 
feftion,  nor,  like  the  venal  panegyrift.  to  exhibit  you 
all  virtue.  As  impartial  hiftorians,  we  coafefs  that 
you  have,  in  the  prei'ent  age,  many  virtues  and  good 
quahiies,  which  were  either  nearly  or  altogether  un- 
known to  your  anceftors  ;  but  do  you  not  exceed 
them  in  fome  follies  and  vkes  alfo  ?  Is  not  the  lev- 
ity, diflipation,  and  extravagance  of  the  women  of 
this  century  arrived  to  a  pitch  unknown  and  un- 
heard-of in  former  times  ?  Is  not  the  courfe  which 
you  fteer  in  life,  almoft  entirely  directed  by  vanity 
and  fafhion  ?  And  are  there  not  too  many  of  you, 
who,  throwing  afide  reafon  and  good  conduct,  and 
defpifmg  the  counfel  of  your  friends  and  relations, 
feem  determined  to  follow  the  mode  of  the  world, 
however  it  may  favour  of  folly,  and  however  it  may 
be  mixed  with  vice  ?  Do  not'the  generahty  of  you 
drefs,  and  appear  above  your  flation,  and  are  not 
many  of  you  afliamed  to  be  feen  performing  the  du- 
ties of  it  ?  ^  To  fum  up  all,  do  not  too,  too  many  of 
you  aft  as  if  you  thought  the  care  of  a  family,  and 
the  other  domeflic  virtues,  beneath  your  attention, 
and  that  the  fole  eud  for  which  you  were  fent  into 
world,  was  to  pleale  and  divert  yourfelves,  at  the 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  263 

^Tpence  of  thofe  poor  wretches  the  men,  whom  you 
ifiJer  as  obliged  to  fiipport  you  in  every  kind  of 
iuicnefs  and  extravagance  ?  While  fuch  is  your  con-. 
duc\,  and  while  the  contagion  is  every  day  increai- 
ing,  you  are  not  to  be  furprifed  if  the  men,  ftill 
fond  of  you  as  playthings,  in  the  hours  of  mirth  and 
revelry,  ihun  every  ferious  connexion  with  you  ; 
and  while  they  wifh  to  be  poffeiTed  of  your  charms,  are 
fo  much  afraid  of  your  manners  and  conduft,  that 
they  prefer  the  cheerlels  Itate  of  a  bachelor,  to  the 
numberlcfs  evils  arifuig  from  being  tied  to  a  modera 
wife. 

OITR  own  times  furnifh  us  with  an  inflance  of 
a  ceremony  from  which  all  women  are  carefully  ex- 
cluded ;*  but  the  Roman  ladies,  in  performing  the 
rites  (acred  to  the  good  goddefs,  were  even  more 
afraivi  of  the  men  than  our  mafons  are  of  women  ; 
for  we  are  told  by  fome  authors,  that  fo  cautious 
were  they  of  concealment,  that  even  the  ftatues  and  pic- 
turesof  menand  other  male  animals  were  hood-wink- 
ed with  a  thick  veil.  The  hcufe  of  the  conful,  though 
commonly  fo  large  that  they  might  have  been  per- 
fectly fecured  againft  all  intrufion  in  (ome  remote 
apartment  of  it,  was  obliged  to  be  evacuated  by  all 
male  animals,  and  even  the  conful  himfetf  was  not 
fuffercd  to  remain  in  it.  Before  they  began  their 
ceremonies,  every  corner  and  lurking-place  in  the 
lie  was  carefully  fearched,  and  no  caution  omit- 
!  to  preveRt  all  pcfiibility  of  beirg  diCcovered  by 
impertinent  curiofity,  or  difturbed  by  prefumptive 
intrufion.  But  thefe  cautions  were  cot  all  the  guard 
that  was  pbxed  around  thera  ;  the  laws  of  the  Ro- 
mans made  it  death  for  any  man  to  be  prefent  at  the 
foleranit/. 

Such  being  the  precautions,  and  fuch  the  penal- 
ties for  i-furing  the  fecrecy  of  tl  is  ceremony,  it  was 
only  once  attempted  to  be  violated,  though  it  exifled 


264  SKETCHES  OF  thk  SEX. 

from  the  foundation  of  the  Roman  empire  till  the 
introduftion  of  Chrillianity  ;  and  this  attempt  was 
made,  not  fo  much  perhaps  with  a  view  to  be  prefent 
at  the  ceremony,  as  to  fulfil  an  affignation  with  a 
miftrefs.  Pompeia,  the  wife  of  Ca3far,  having  been 
fufpefted  of  a  criminal  correfpondence  with  Claudi- 
us, and  lb  clofely  watched  that  fhe  coiild  find  no  cp- 
portunity  of  gratifying  her  paffion,  at  laft,  by  the 
means  of  a  female  Have,  fettled  an  affignation  with 
him  at  the  celebration  of  the  rites  of  the  good  god- 
defs.  .  Claudius  was  direfied  to  come  in  the  habit 
of  a  fmgin^-girl,  a  character  he  could  eafily  perfon- 
^ie^  being  young  and  of  a  fair  complexion.  As  fooa 
;is  the  flave  faw  him  enter,  fhe  ran  to  inform  her  mif- 
trefs.  The  miftrefs  eager  to  meet  her  lover,  imme- 
diately left  the  company,  and  threw  herfelf  into  his 
ai  ms,  but  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  by  him  to  re- 
turn fo  foon  as  he  thought  necefiary  for  the'r  mntual 
fafety ;  upon  which  he  left  her,  and  began  to  take  a 
walk  through  the  rooms,  always  avoiding  the  light 
as  much  as  poiTible.  While  he  was  thus  walking  by 
himfelf,  a  maid-fervant  accofted  him,  and  defiredhim 
to  fing  ;  he  took  no  notice  of  her,  but  fhe  followed 
and  urging  him  fo  clofely,  that  he  was  at  lafl  obliged 
to  fpeak*  His  voice  betrayed  his  fex  j  the  maid-ler- 
vant  flirieked,  and  running  into  the  room  where  the 
rites  were  performing,  told  that  a  man  was  in  the 
Iioufe.  The  women  in  the  utmoU  conflernation, 
threw  a  veil  over  the  myfleries,  ordered  the  doors  to 
be  fecured,  ?;i.d  with  lights  in  their  hr.nds,  ran  about 
the  houfe  fearching  for  the  facrilegious  intruder. 
1  ney  found  him  in  the  apartment  of  th3  flave  who 
had  admitted  him,  drove  him  out  with  ignominy, 
and,  though  it  was  in  the  middle  of  the  right,  imme- 
diately dilperfed,  to  give  an  account  to  their  hufbands 
of  what  had  hj.i^yrcuca,  Claudius  was  foon  after  ac- 
cused of  hav:i.;i;  profaned  the  holy  ri^es ;  but  the 
populace  deciariag  in  his  favor,  the  judges,  fearing 
an  infurre£lion,  weic  obliged  to  acquit  him. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  265 

CHAP.    LXX. 

^no't/h    Cuftoms — Ancient  Cujlcms — Athenian^  Midwife, 
i;:, — Canadian  Wemcn — Superjlidon,  &c. 

I.-  '#: 
N  the  religion  of  the  modern  Jews,  there  are  fpme 
ceremonies  pecuHar  to  their  women,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  their  fabbath,  which  is  on  the  Friday 
evening  at  half  an  hour  before  the  fun  fets.  Every 
confcieDcious  Jew  muft  have  a  lamp  lighted  in  his 
houie,  even  though  he  fhould  borrow  the  oil  of  his^ 
neighbour.  The  lighting  of  thefe  lamps  is  a  kind  of 
religious  rite,  invariably  afligned  to  the  women,  in 
order  to  recal  to  their  memory  the  crime  by  which 
their  original  mother  firft  extiaguifhed  the  lamp  of 
righteoulhefs,  and  to  teach  them,  that  they  ought  to 
do  every  thing  in  their  power  to  atone  for  that 
crime,  by  rekindling  it.  Inftead  of  the  fcape-goat, 
which  this  people  formerly  loaded  with  their  fms, 
and  fent  into  the  wildernefs,  they  now  fubftitute  a 
fowl.  Every  father  of  a  family  take^  a  white  cock, 
and  tre  mother  of  the  family  a  v/hite  hen,  which  fhe 
llrikes  upon  the  head,  repeating  at  every  f.roke, 
*'  Let  this  hen  atone  for  my  fins  ;  fhe  Ihall  die,  but 
1  (h?.ll  live."  This  done,  fhe  twifls  her  neck,  as/l 
cuts  her  throat,  to  fignify,  that  without  fhedding  I  at . 
blood  there  is  no  rem.ifnn  of  fm.  If  a  woman,  how-' 
ever,  happens  to  be  pregnant  at  the  time  of  this  cere- 
mony, as  fhe  cannot  ::fcertain  whether  the  infant  is 
.a  male  or  a  female,  that  its  fins,  of  whatever  gender 
it  be,  may  not  be  u:. expiated,  flie  takes  both  a  hen 
and  cock,  thnt  fhe  may  be  aflured  of  having  perform- 
^A   K«  ceremony  as  required  by  their  law. 

BESIDFS  thefe  ceremonies  already  mentioned, 
thew  ^TT'-n  in  anrj.  nt  tim^s,  as  direfted  by  fancy  or 
if  '  ■        '    ,]  the  tombs  of  tbdr  de- 

C'..     .  -  , i:^mps  upon  them,  and 

XXIII 


2^6  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

adorned  tV  em  with  a  variety  of  herbs  and  flowers  ; 
a  cuftom  at  this  time  obierved  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Conftantinople  and  its  neighborhood,  who  not  only 
adorn  the  tombs  of  their  dead,  tut  plant  their  bury- 
ing-grounds  with  rofemary,  cypreis,  and  ether  odor- 
iferous flirubs  and  flowers ;  but  whether  with  a  view 
to  pleafe  the  manes  of  the  dead,  or  preferve  the 
health  of  the  living,  is  uncertain.  There  were  ether 
oroamen's  belides  thefe  we  have  now  mentioned,  uf- 
ed,by  the  women  of  antiquity  to  deck  the  tombs. 
Among  the  Greeks,  the  tomb  of  a  deceaftd  lover 
was  frequently  hung  round  with  locks  of  the  hair  of 
his  mittrefs.  They  likewife  made  offerings,  and 
poured  cut  libations  to  the  ghofts,  whom  they  fup- 
pofed  to  fmell,  to  eat,  and  to  drink  as  they  did  while 
upon  earth.  This  was  not  only  a  prevailing  opin- 
ion among  the  ancents,  but  has  not  as  yet  been  to»- 
tally  obUterated.  It  is  ftill  believed  by  the  Chiri- 
guanes ;  and  at  Narva,  one  of  the  principal  towns 
of  Livonia,  they  celebrate  a  remarkable  f eftival  fa- 
cred  to  the  manes  of  the  dead.  On  the  eve  of 
Whitfuntide,  the  women  aflemble  in  the  church- 
yard,  and  fpreading  napkins  on  the  graves  and  tomb- 
ftones,  cover  them  with  a  variety  of  dilhes  of  broiled 
and  fried  fifli,  cuftarus,  and  painted  eggs  ;  and  to 
r.'^  iJer  them  mere  agreeable  to  the  gholls,  the  prieft, 
^^  hile  he  is  praying  over  them,  perfumes  them  with 
frankincenfe,  the  women  all  the  time  howling  and 
lamenting  in  the  moft  difmal  manner,  and  the  intelli- 
f^ent  clerk  not  lefs  afliduoufly  employed  in  defrauding 
the  ghof-s,  by  gathering  up  all  the  viands  for  the  ulc 
of  the  pried. 

BESIDES  tl:efe  ceremonies  of  religion  and  of 
niourning,  which  the  women  have  appropriated  to 
themfelves,  there  are  ethers  obferved  by  them, 
which,  ariling  from  their  nature,  and  the  circumdan- 
ces  attending  it,  may,  for  that  reafou,  be  denomina- 
ted fexual.    In  Ciiir-gua,  when  a  girl  arrives  at  a 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  267 

certain  age,  her  female  relations  inclofe  her  in  a  ham- 
moc,  and  rufpeud  it  at  the  end  of  her  cottage,  Hav- 
ing  remained  in  this  haramoc  for  one  month,  they 
let  it  down  half  way,  and  at  the  end  of  another 
month,  the  neighboring  women  affemble,  and  hav- 
ing armed  therafelvcs  with  clubs  and  Itaves,  enter 
the  cottage  in  a  frantic  manner,  flriking  furiouily 
upon  every  thing  within  it.  Having  afted  this  farce 
for  fome  time,  one  of  them  declares  that  ihe  has  kil- 
kd  the  ferpent  which  had  ftung  the  girl ;  upon  which 
{he  is  liberated  from  her  confinement,  the  women  re- 
joice for  fome  time  together,  and  then  depart  every 
one  to  her  own  home.  Among  fome  of  the  Tarta- 
rian tribes,  when  a  girl  arrives  ac  the  fame  period  of 
life,  they  ihut  her  up  for  fome  days,  and  afterward 
hnug  a  lignal  on  the  top  of  her  teat,  to  let  the  young 
men  know  that  fhe  is  become  marriageable.  Among 
others  of  thefe  tribes,  ih^a  parents  of  the  girl  make  .1 
feaft  oil  thii  occalion,  and  havuig  invited  their  neigh- 
bors, and  treated  them  with  milk  and  horfe-flefli, 
they  declare  their  daughter  is  become  marriageable, 
and  that  they  are  ready  to  difpofe  of  her  as  loon  as 
a  proper  opportunity  (hall  offer.  In  CircafFia  and 
Georgia,  where  parents  are  fometimes  obliged  to 
marry  their  daughters  while  infants,  to  prevent  their 
being  violently  taken  from  them  by  the  rich  and 
po  A'erful,  the  circumflance  of  a  girl  being  arrived  at 
the  time  of  puberty,  is  frequently  cocceal^rd  for  fome 
time,  as  thehufbandhas  then  a  right  to  demand  her, 
and  the  parents  perhaps  think  her  too  young  for  the 
matrimonial  lUite. 

Among  the  circumftances  which  gave  rife^  to 
thefe  cuftoms  which  we  have  called  fexual,  child- 
bearing  is  one  of  the  moft  particular.  As  in  child- 
bearicg  fome  little  alfiftance  has  generally  been  ne- 
ceflary  in  almoft  all  countries ;  to  aflbrd  this  affif- 
tance,  the  women  have  commonly  employed  mid- 
wives  of  their  own  fex.  The  Athenians  were  the 
only  people  of  antiquity  who  did  otherwife*     They 


76^  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

had  a  law  which  prohibited  women  aiid  Haves  from 
praftifing  phylic  :  as  midwifery  was  accounted  one 
of  the  branches  of  this  art,  many  Uves  had  been  loft, 
becaufe  the  delicacy  of  the  w^omen  would  not  fubmit 
to  be  delivered  by  a  man.  A  woman  called  Agno- 
dice5in  order  to  refcue  her  cciintry-wosien  from  this 
difficulty,  dreiTed  herfelf  in  the  habit  of  a  man,  and 
having  liudied  the  art  of  phylic,  revealed  herfelf  to 
the  wcmrn,  who  sU  agreed  to  employ  no  other.  Up- 
on this  the  reft  of  the  phyficians,  enraged  that  fhe 
{hould  monopolize  all  the  bufmefs,  arraigned  her  be- 
fore the  court  of  Areopagus,  as  only  having  obtain- 
ed the  preference  to  thera  by  corrupting  the  ehaftity 
of  the  w^omen  whom  fhe  delivered.  This  obliging 
her  to  dii cover  her  fex,  t'i>e  phylicians  then  prolecu- 
ft  ted  her  for  violating  the  lav/s  of  her  country.  I'he 
principal  matrons  of  the  city,  now  finding  her  in 
fuch  danger,  afTembled  together,  came  into  the 
court,  and  petitioned  the  judges  in  her  favor.  The 
petition  of  the  matrons  was  fo  powerful,  and  the 
reafDns  which  they  urged  for  having  employed  her, 
fo  conducive  to  the  prefervation  of  female  delicacy, 
that  a  law  was  made,  allowing  women  to  praftiie 
midwifery.  The  fex  availed  themfelves  of  this  law, 
and  the  alfiftance  of  the  men  focn  became  quite  un^ 
fafhionable. 

Among  the  Romans,  and  the  Arabians,  who  af- 
ter them  cultivated  the  fcience  of  medicine  with  great 
affiduity,  the  women  in  cafe  of  difficulty,  fbmetimes 
fubmitted  to  be  dehvered  by  a  man ;  but  this  was 
far  from  being  a  matter  of  choice  or  a  general  prac« 
tice :  nor  was  it  till  the  latter  end  of  the  laft  century, 
and  beginning  of  this,  when  excefs  of  pclitenefs  m 
France  and  Italy  had  begun  to  eradicate  delicacy,  that 
the  fex  began  to  give  fo  much  into  the  mode  of  be^ 
ing  delivered  by  male  praftitioners ;  a  mode  which 
now  fo  comm.only  prevails,  that  there  is  fcarcely  to 
be  found  in  Europe,  a  woman  fo  unfafhionable  as  to 
be  delivered  by  one  of  her  own  fex,  if  fhe  can  afford 


SKETCflES  OF  THE  SEX.  269 

to  p^y  for  the  ailiftance  of  a  man.  How  far  the 
women  may  be  lafer  in  this  fafhicnable  way  than  in 
the  other,  we  Ihall  not  take  upon  us  to  determine,  but 
of  this  we  ari  aflured,  tiiat  the  cultom  is  Ids  cou- 
fiftent  with  delicacy. 

IN  fome  climates,  where  the  conflitution  is  rebx- 
ed  by  the  heat,  and  at  the  fame  time  not  vitiated  by 
thofe  habits  which  in  politer  nations  deftroy  man- 
kind, women  are  faid  to  be  delivered  with  but  little 
paiH,  and  frequently  without  any  affiftance ;  nor  is 
this  fingularity  altogether  peculiar  to  warm  countries, 
but  feeras  to  'depend  more  on  liv.ng  agreeably  to  na- 
ture, than  on  climate,  or  any  other  circumftaiice ; 
for  we  have  heai'd  it  ailerted'  by  feveral  people  who 
have  been  in  Canada,  that  a  lavage  woman,  when 
Ihe  feels  the  fymptoms  of  labor  coming  on  her,  fteals 
filently  to  the  woods,  lays  herfelf  down  in  a  coppice, 
and  is  delivered  alone  ;  which  done,  fne  goes  to  the 
nearelt  river  or  pool,  wafhes  herielf  and  the  child, 
and  then  returns  home  to  her  hut. 


WHILE  ignorance  and  fuperftition  difturbed 
the  human  mind  with  gronncllels  terrors  and  appre- 
henfio::s,  it  was  a  prevailing  opinion  over  all  Europe, 
tha^  lying-ia  women  were  more  lubje<^t  to  the  pow- 
er of  di^mons  and  wi'.ches  tiian  people  in  any  other 
condition,  and  that  new-born  infants,  if  not  careful- 
ly watched,  and  iecnred  by  ceremonies  and  fpells,, 
were  frequently  carried  away  by  them  :  on  this  ac- 
count various  ceremonies  and  (pells  were  commonly 
made  ufe  of ;  and  even  fo  lately  as  our  times,  we  re- 
member to  havefeen  in  the  weitcf  Scotland,  a  horfe- 
Ihoe  y  ■  '  ^on  the  door,  in  an  inverted  manner, 
to  I'e-ii  'j-in  woman  from  the  power  of  witch- 

craft.   B  ^  was  not  confined  to  Europe ; 

it  pervade  i'  the  giobe.      The  Nogais 

'J  artars  are  tne  particular  dupes  of  it ;  when  one  of 
their  women  is  in  labor,  the  relations  of  the  family 
iXIII  2 


270  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

affemble  at  her  door,  and  make  a  prodigious  noife 
by  beating  on  pots  and  kettles^  in  order  to  fright 
away  the  devil,  who  they  fuppofe  would,  if  he  did 
not  find  them  on  their  guard,  do  fomemUchief  to  the 
mother  cr  child,  or  to  both. 


CHAP.    LXXL 

Cnjlom  oftheMufcQvites — Cajiratton — Eunuchs — Origin  of 
Nunneries — Cxijiom  in  the  Mogul  Empre. 


I 


F  the  laws  we  have  formerly  mentioned,  forbid- 
ding the  marriage  of  near  relations  with  each  other, 
originated  from  the  political  view  of  preferving  the 
human  race  from  degeneracy,  they  are  the  only  laws 
we  meet  with  on  that  fubjeft,  and  exert  almoft  the 
only  care  we  find  taken  of  fo  important  a  matter. 
The  Afialic  is  careful  to  improve  the  breed  of  his  ele- 
phants, the  Arabian  of  his  horfes,  and  the  Laplander 
of  his  rein-deer.  The  Englifhman,  eager  to  have 
Iwift  horfes,  ftaunch  dogs,  and  viftorious  cocks, 
grudges  no  care,  and  {pares  no  expence,  to  have  the 
males  and  females  matched  properly ;  but  fince  the 
daysofSoloii-^  where  is  the  legillator,  or  fmce  the 
times  of  the  ancient  Greeks,  where  are  the  private 
perfons,  who  take  any  care  to  improve,  or  even  to 
i^eep  from  degeneracy  the  breed  of  their  own  fpe- 
des  ?  Ihe  Englirnman  who  fdlicitoufly  attends  the 
training  of  his  colts  and  puppies,  would  be  alhamed' 
lobe  caught  in  the  nurfery ;  and  wlile  no  motive 
could  prevail  upon  him  to  breed  horfes  or  hounds 
from  an  improper  or  contaminated  kind,  he  will 
calmly,  or  rather  inconfiderately,  match  himfelf  with 
the  inoft  decrepid  or  dileafed  of  the  human  fpecieg  ; 
though  tlefs  of  the  weaknelles  and  evils  he  is  going  to 
entail  on  pofterity,  and  confidering  nothing  but  the 
acquifition  of  fortune  he  is  by  her  alliance  to  convey 


SKETCHES  OE  the  SEX.  27.1 

to  an  offspring,  by  difeafes  rendered  unable  to  iife 
U.  The  MuCcovites  were  formerly  the  only  people^ 
befides  the  Greeks,  who  paid  a  proper  attention  to 
this  lubjeft.  After  the  preliminaries  of  a  marriage 
were  fettled  between  the  parents  of  a  young  couple, 
the  bride  was  firipped  naked,  and  carefully  examin- 
ed by  2  jury  of  matrons,  when,  if  they  found  any 
bodily  defeft,  they  endeavored  to  cure  it ;  but  if  it 
would  admit  of  no  remedy,  the  match  was  broke  off, 
and  Ihe  was  confidered  not  only  as  a  very  improper 
fubjeft  to  breed  from,  but  improper  alfo  for  main- 
taining the  afieftions  of  a  huiband,  after  he  had  dif- 
covered  the  impofition  fhe  had  put  upon  him. 

In  England,  the  marriage  ceremony  is  not  to  be 
performed  but  in  the  church,  and  bet\yeen  the  hours 
of  eight  and  twelve  o'clock  in  the  forenoon.  In 
Scotland,  this  is  deemed  incompatible  with  morality 
and  found  policy,  as  it  hinders  the  valetudinarian 
from  doing  all  the  juftice  in  his  power  to  the  miftrefs 
he  has  lived  with  and  debauched  y  he  may  therefore 
naarry  her  at  any  hour,  or  in  any  place,  and  by  that 
marriage,  legitimate  all  the  children  he  has  by  her, 
whether  they  be  prefent  at  the  marriage  cr  not. — 
Nearly  the  fame  thing  lakes  place  all  over  Germany, 
only  in  fome  parts  of  it,  the  children  to  be  legitima- 
ted are  required  to  be  prefent,  to  be  acknowledged 
by  the  father,  and  to  hold  the  lappet  of  his  garment, 
during  the  performance  of  the  marriage  ceremony.. 

AS  the  appetite  towards  the  other  fex  is  one  of 
the  ftrong  :lt  and  molt  ungovernable  in  our  nature ; 
as  it  intrudes  iifelf  more  than  any  other  into  our 
thoughts,  and  frequently  diverts  them  from  every 
other  purp^fe  or  employ meiit ;  it  may,  at  firft,  on 
this  account,  havj  been  reckoned  criminal  when  it 
interfered  with  worfbip  and  devotion  ;  and  emafcu- 
1  ition  was  rriade  ufe  of  in  order  to  get  rid  of  it,  which 
have  been  the  origin  of  Eunuchs.  Bat 
...  j^,  it  is  certain,  that  there  were  men 


2^  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

of  various  religions,  who  made  themfelves  incapable 
of  procreation  on  a  religious  account,  as  we  are  told 
that  the  priefts  of  Cybele  conltaotly  cafirated  them- 
felves ;  and  by  our  Saviour,  that  there  are  eunuchs 
who  make  themfelves  fuch  for  the  kingdom  of  heav- 
en's fake. 


SOON  after  the  introduftion  of  chriftianity,  St, 
Mark  is  laid  to  have  founded  a  fociety  called  Thera- 
peutes,  who  dwelt  by  the  lake  Moeris  in  Egypt,  and 
devoted  themfelves  to  folitude  and  religious  offices. 
About  the  year  305  of  the  chriflian  computation.,  St. 
Anthony  being  perfecuted  by  Dioclefian,  retired  in- 
to the  defart  near  the  lake  Moeris ;  numbers  of  peo- 
ple foon  followed  his  example,  joined  themfelves  to 
the  Therapeutes ;  St.  Anthony  being  placed  as  their 
head,  and  improving  upon  their  rules,  firft  formed 
them  into  regular  monasteries,  and  enjoined  them  to 
live  in  morcifcation  and  chaftity.  About  the  fame 
time,  or  foon  after,  St.  Synclitica,  refolving  not  to 
be  behind  St.  Anthony  in  her  zeal  for  chaftity,  is 
generally  believed  to  have  colkcled  together  a  num- 
ber of  enthufiaflic  females,  and  to  have  f.;unded  the 
firft  nunnery  for  their  reception.  Some  imagine  the 
fcheme  of  celibacy  was  concerted  between  S^  An- 
thony and  St.  Synclitica,  as  St.  Anthony,  en  h^s  firft 
retiring  into  fr  litu;^e,  is  faid  to  have  put  his  fifter  in- 
to a  nunnery,  wl  ich  mnft  have  been  that  of  St.  Syn- 
clitica ;  but  how^^ver  tnis  be,  from  their  inftitution, 
monks  and  Duns  incnafed  To  f;ift,  that  in  the  city  of 
Orixa,  abou*-  feventeen  3^ears  after  the  death  of  St. 
Anthony,  there  were  tv/enty  thoufand  virgins  devo- 
ted to  celib  icy. 

Such  H;  his  time  W2S  the  rage  of  celibacy ;  a 
rage  wh'ch.  however  unnatural,  will  ceafe  to  excite 
our  wonder,  wj  en  we  confider,  that  it  was  accounted 
by  both  f':xes  the  fure  ai^d  only  infallible  road  to 
heaven  and  eternal  happinefs ;  and  as  (iich,  it  behov- 
ed the  church  vigcrcufly  to  maintaia  and  couiue* 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  1173 

nance  it,  which  ihe  did  by  beginning  about  this  time 
to  deny  the  liberty  of  marriage  to  her  fons.  In  the 
iirft  council  of  Nice,  held  foon  after  the  intrcduftiou 
of  chriilianity,  the  cehbacy  of  the  clergy  was  ilrenii- 
cufly  argued  for,  ana  fume  think  t^at  even  in  an  ear- 
lier period  it  had  been  the  fubjeft  of  debate  ;  how- 
ever this  be,  it  was  not  agreed  to  in  the  council  of 
Nice,  though  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  century  it  is 
laid  that  Syricus,  bifhop  of  Rome,  enafted  the  firit 
flecree  againit  the  marriage  of  monks  ^  a  decree 
..Viich  was  net  univerfally  received  :  for  feveral  cen- 
t:.  \r,  we  find  that  it  was  not  uncommon  for 

C:-  to  have  wives ;  even  the  popes  were  al- 

lowed t/.iS  liberty,  ae  it  is  faid  in  fome  of  the  old 
ft:5tr:tes  of  the  chnrcb,  that  it  was  lawful  for  the  pope 
t  ^:r  the  lake  of  havicg children.  So 

e:  ^  It  is  it  to  combat  againft  nature, 

that  little  regard  ieem's  to  have  been  paid  to  this  de- 
cree of  SyrJGus;  for  we  are  informed,  that  feveral 
centuries  after,  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the 
clergy  to  have  wives,  and  perhaps  even  a  plurality  of 
them ;  as  we  find  it  among  the  ordonnances  of  pope 
Sylvelter,  that  every  prielt  fliould  be  the  hufbacd  ot 
one  wife  only  ;  ancl  Pius  the  Second  affirmed,  that 
though  many  flrong  reafons  m'ght  be  adduced  in  fup- 
port  of  the  celibacy  of  the  ckrgy,  there  were  ftill 
ftroDger  reafjns  ag:dnfl:  it. 

IN  a  variety  of  parts  of  the  Mogul  empire,  when 
the  women  are  carried  abroad,  they  are  put  into  a 
kind  of  machhie,  like  a  chariot,  and  placed  on  the 
backs  of  camels,  or  in  covered  iedan  chi^u-s,  arid 
furrounded  by  a  guard  of  eunuchs,  and  armed  men, 
infuchani  .  "  would  rather  liippde 
the  cHval-;  .;e  defperate  vilhin 
t'  :  t' )  prevent  the  intrigues 
cv  woman.  At  horrc,  the 
i-                                    jze  veils,  ":oc 

t..  of  any  mu.., , laf- 


a74  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

band,  or  feme  near  relation.  Over  the  greateft  pari 
of  Afia,  and  in  fome  places  of  Africa,  women  ard_ 
guarded  by  eunuchs,  made  incapable  of  violating" 
their  chafiity.  In  Spain,  where  the  natives  are  the 
defcendants  of  the  Africans,  and  whofe  jealoufy  is 
not  lefs  iirong  than  that  of  their  ancellors,  they,  for 
many  centuries,  made  ufe  of  padlocks  to  fecure  the 
chaftity  of  their  women  ;  bur  finding  thefe  ineffedtu- 
al,  they  frequently  had  recourfe  to  old  women,  cal- 
led Gouvernantes.  It  had  been  difcoveied,  that  men 
deprived  of  their  virility,  did  not  fometimes  guard  fe- 
male virtue  fo  ftridly,  as  to  be  incapable  of  being 
bribed  to  allow  another  a  tafte  of  thoie  pkafures  they 
themfelves  were  incapable  of  enjoying.  The  Span- 
iards, fenfible  of  this,  imagined,  that  vindictive  old 
women  were  more  likely  to  be  incorruptible ;  as  en- 
vy would  ftiraulate  them  to  prevent  the  young  from 
enjoying  thofe  pleafures,  which  they  themfelves  had 
no  longer  any  chance  for  ;  but  all  powerful  gold  foon 
overcame  even  this  obftacle  ;  and  the  Spaniards,  at 
prefent,  feem  to  give  up  all  reftridive  methods,  and 
to  truft  the  virtue  of  their  women  to  good  principles^^ 
inftead  of  rigour  and  hard  ul'age.. 


-^fc;s^h- 


CHAP.   LXXIL 


Grecian  Court  [hip  ^  Power  of  Philtres  and  Charms' — Eaf* 
tern  CourtJhip-^'Long  Hair  of  Saxons  and  Danes* 

VV  HAT  we  have  now  obierved  concerning  the 
manner  of  covirtfhip,  was  too  much  the  cafe  with  the 
Greeks.  In  the  er.rlier  periods  of  their  hiftory,  their 
love,  if  we  may  call  it  lb,  was  only  the  animal  appe- 
tite, impetuous  and  unreftrain^d  either  by  cultiva^ 
tion  of  manners,  or  precepts  of  morality  ;  and  almoft 
every  opportunity  which  fell  in  their  way  prompted 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  275 

them  to  fatisfy  that  appetite  by  force,  and  to  revenge 
the  obflrudion  of  it  by  murder.  When  they  be- 
came a  more  civilized  people,  they  fhone  much  more 
illullrioufly  in  arts  and  in  arms,  than  in  delicacy  of 
fentiment  and  elegance  of  manners :  hence  we  fhall 
find,  that  their  method  of  making  love  was  more 
direfted  to  compel  the  fair  fex  to  a  compliance  with 
their  wifties  by  charms  and  philtres,  than  to  win 
them  by  the  namelefs  affiduities  and  good  offices  of  a 
lover. 

As  the  two  fexes  in  Greece  had  but  little  com-^ 
munication  with  each  other,  and  a  lover  was  feldom 
favored  with  an  opportuniry  of  telling  his  paffion  to 
his  miftrefs,  he  ufed  to  difcover  it  by  infcribing  her 
name  on  the  walls  of  his  houfe,  on  the  bark  of  the 
trees  of  a  public  walk,  or  the  leaves  of  his  books ;  it 
was  cuftorhary  for  him  alio  to  deck  the  door  of  the 
houfe,  where  his  fair  one  lived,  with  garlands  and 
flowers,  to  make  libations  of  wine  before  it,  and  to 
fprinkie  the  entrance  with  the  fame  liquor,  in  the 
manner  that  was  praftifed  at  the  temple  of  Cupid. 
Garlands  were  of  great  ufe  among  the  Greeks  in  love 
affairs ;  when  a  man  untied  his  garland,  it  was  a  de- 
claration of  his  having  been  fubdued  by  that  paffion ; 
and  when  a  woman  compofed  a  garland,  it  was  a  ta- 
cit confelTion  of  the  fame  thing  :  and  though  we  are 
not  inform^  of  it,  we  may  prefume  that  both  fexes 
had  methods  of  difcovering  by  thefe  garlands,  not 
only  that  they  were  in  bve,  but  the  obj-ft  alfo  upon 
whom  it  was  direfted. 

Such  were  the  common  methods  of  difcovering 
the  paffion  of  love,  the  methods  of  profecuting  it 
were  ftill  more  extraordinary^  and  lefs  reconcilable 
to  civ?li7aion  and  10  good  principles ;  when  a  love 
affair  did  net  profper  in  the  hards  of  a  Grecian,  he 
did  not  endeavor  to  become  more  engaging  in  his 
manners  and  perfon,  he  did  not  hvifh  his  fortune  in 
prefents,  or  become  more  oblig'ng  rnd  afficiuous  in 
Kig  addrcflcs,  but  immediately  had  recourfe  to  in- 


276  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

cantations  and  philtres ;  in  ccmpofing  and  dilpenfing 
of  which,  the  women  of  I'heflkly  were  reckoned  the 
moft  famous,  and  drove  a  traffic  in  them  of  no  incon- 
fiderable  advantage.  Thefe  potions  were  given  by 
the  women  to  the  men,  as  well  as  by  the  men  to  the 
women,  and  were  generally  fo  violent  in  their  opera- 
tion as  for  fome  time  to  deprive  the  perfon  who  took 
them,  of  fenfe,  and  not  uncrmmonly  of  life  :  their 
ccmpofition  was  a  variety  of  herbs  of  the  mcft  flrong 
and  virulent  nature,  which  v/e  fliall  not  mention  ; 
but  herbs  were  not  the  only  things  they  relied  on 
for  their  purpofe,they  called  in  the  produftions  of  the 
animal  and  mineral  kingdoms  to  their  affiftance ; 
v*^hen  thefe  failed,  they  roafted  an  image  of  wax  be- 
fore the  fire,  reprefenting  the  objeft  of  their  love, 
and  as  this  became  warm,  they  flattered  them.felves 
that  the  perfcn  reprefented  by  it  would  be  propor- 
tionally waraied  with  love.  When  a  lover  could  ob- 
tain any  thing  belonging  to  his  miftrefs,  he  imagined 
it  of  fmgular  advantage,  and  depofited  it  in  the  earth 
beneath  the  threfhold  of  h.er  door.  Befides  thefe, 
they  had  a  wiriety  of  other  methods  equally  ridicul- 
ous  and  unavailing,  and  of  wf.ich  it  would  be  tri- 
fling to  give  a  minute  detail ;  we  fhall,  therefore,  jufl: 
take  notice  as  we  go  along,  that  fuch  of  either  fex  as 
believed  themfclves  forced  into  love  by  the  power  of 
philtres  and  ch?.rms,  commonly  had  recourfe  to  the 
fame  methods  to  difengage  themfelves,  and  break  the 
power  of  thefe  enchantments,  which  they  fuppofed 
operated  involuntarily  rn  their  inclinations  ;  and 
thus  the  old  women  of  Greece,  like  the  lawyers  of 
modern  times,  w.re  employed  to  defeat  the  fchemes 
and  operations  of  each  other,  and  like  them  too,  it 
is  prefumable,  bughed  in  their  fleeves,  while  they 
hugged  the  gains  that  arofe  from  vulgar  credulity. 

THE  R omans,  who  borrowed  raoft  of  their  cuf- 
toms  from  the  Greeks,  alfo  followed  them  in  that  of 
endeavouring  to  conciliate  love  by  the  power  of  phil- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  277 

ires  and  charms ;  a  faft  ot  which  we  have  not  the 
leaft  room  to  doubt,  as  there  are  in  Virgil  and  Ibme 
other  of  the  Latin  poets  to  many  inflances  that  prove 
it.  But  it  depends  not  altogether  on  the  teftimony 
of  the  poets :  Plutarch  tells  us,  that  Lucullus,  a  Ro- 
man General,  loft  his  fenfes,  by  a  love  potion  ;*  and 
Caius  Caligula,  according  to  Suetonius,  was  thrown 
into  a  fit  of  madnefs  by  one  w^hich  was  given  him  by 
his  wife  Ca^fonia  ;  Lucretius  too,  according  to  fome 
authors,  fell  a  facrifice  to  the  fame  folly.  1  he  Ro- 
mans, like  the  Greeks,  made  ufe  of  thefe  methods 
moftly  in  their  affairs  of  gallantry  and  unlawful  love ; 
but  in  what  manner  they  addrefled  themfelves  to  a 
lady  they  intended  to  marry,  has  not  been  handed 
dow^n  to  us,  and  the  reaibn  as  we  fuppofe  is,  thatht- 
tle  or  no  courtfhip  was  practifed  among  them  ;  wo- 
men had  no  dilpofmg  power  of  themfelves,  to  what 
purpofe  was  it  then  to  apply  to  them  for  their  con- 
lent  ?  They  w«re  under  perpetual  guardianfhip,  and  the 
guardian  having  the  Icle  power  of  difpofing  of  them, 
it  was  only  neceffary  to  apply  to  him.  In  the  Ro- 
man authors,  we  frequently  read  of  a  father,  a  bro- 
ther, or  a  guardian,  giving  his  daughter,  his  fifter,  or 
his  ward,  in  marriage;  but  we  do  not  recclleftone 
Cngle  inftance  of  being  told  that  the  intended  bride- 

Sroom  applied  to  the  lady  for  her  confent ;  a  circnm- 
:ance  the  more  extraordinary,  as  women  in  tie  de- 
cline of  the  Roman  empire  had  arifen  to  a  dignirv, 
and  even  to  a  freedom,  hardly  equalled  in  modern 
times. 


n  HIS  long  been  a  common  obfervat'on  amon:^; 
mankind,  that  love  is  the  moll  fruitful  fource  of  in- 
vention; and  that  in  this  cafe  the  imagination  of  a 

•  A«  thr  not'On  of  love  potions  and  pow<^cr8  »s  at  this  day  not  alto- 
gether eraiicatcd,  wc  take  tht$  opoortunity  of  aHuring  nur  rraHerb,  that 
th«re  ''s  n'>  pofi'>n,  pnwtjrr,  or  nrrdicinc  known  to  mankind,  that  hasflnv 
!^'  R  the  aftciStions  to  any  certain  ob- 

•I'^  irc  not  only  vain   and  illufive,but 

>.  A  fV 


QyS  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

woman  is  dill  more  fruitful  of  invention  and  expedi- 
ent than  that  of  a  man  ;  agreeably  to  this,  we  are 
told,  that  th(/women  of  the  ifland  of  Araboyna,  be- 
ing clofely  watched  on  all  cccafions,  and  defritute  of 
the  art  of  writing,  by  which,  in  other  places,  the 
I'entiraents  are  conveyed  at  any  diftance,  have  me- 
thods of  making  known  their  inclinations  to  their 
levers,  and  of  fixing  affignations  with  them,  by  means 
of  ncfe-gays,  and  plates  of  fruit  fo  difpofed,  as  to 
convey  their  fentiments  in  the  mcft  explicit  manner  : 
by  theie  means  their  courtfhip  is  generally  carried 
on,  and  by  altering  the  difpofition  of  fymbcls  made 
ufe  of,  they  contrive  to  fignify  their  refufal,  ^vith  the 
•  an^e  explicitnefs  as  their  approbation.  In  fome  of 
lie  neighboring  iilands,  when  a  young  man  has  fix- 
ed his  eflection,  like  the  Italians,  he  gees  from  time 
to  time  to  her  doer,  and  plays  upon  fome  mufical  in* 
ftrument.;  if  fhe  gives  confent,  ihe  comes  out  to  him, 
and  they  fettle  the  affair  of  matrimony  between 
them  :  if,  after  a  certain  number  of  thefe  kind  of  vi- 
lits,  fhe  dees  not  appear,  it  is  a  denial ;  and  the  dif- 
appointed  lover  is  obliged  to  defiih 

We  fhali  fee  afterward,  when  we  come  to  treat 
of  the  matrimonial  compaft,  that,  in  fome  places,  the 
ceremony  cf  marriage  ccnfif Is  in  tyirgthe  garments 
of  the  ycung  couple  tcgether,  as  an  emblem  of  that 
union  which  ought  to  bind  their  affcift-ions  and  inter- 
efls.  This  ceremony  has  aflbrded  a  hint  for  lovers 
to  explain  their  paiTion  to  their  miilrelTes,  in  the 
mcii:  intell'gible  manner,  withcut  the  help  of 
fpeech,  or  the  .poiTibility  of  oflcudicg  the  nicefc  deli- 
cacy. A  kver  in  thefe  parts,  who  is  too  modell  to 
declare  Mm fc-lf,  feizes  the  firft  opportunity  he  can 
find,  cf  fitiirg  down  by  his  iniftrcfs,  and  tying  his 
^  arment  to  1  crs,  in  the  manner  th'it  is  practifed  in 
the  cerem'or.y  of  m.arriage :  if  ihe  permits  him  to  fin- 
iili  the  knot,  without  ar.y  interri;piion,  aud  does  not 
loon  after  cut  or  loofe  it,  fhe  thereby  gives  her  con- 
icni  ;  if  ^'-  ^ook:^  it,  he  may  tye  it  ngain  on  Ibme 


SKETCHES  or  the  SEX.  ^79 

ether  occaQon,  when  (lie  may  prove  more  propitious  ; 
butj  if  (he  cuts  it,  his  hopes  are  blafted  forever. 

TO  this  account  we  fliiili  add  ibme  rerfiarks  on 
the  drefs  of  the  Angb-Saxons  and  Danes.  They 
conlidered  their  hair  as  one  of  their  greatelt  perfonal 
beauties,  and  took  great  care  to  drefs  it  to  tlie  atmoft: 
advantage.  Young  I  idles  wore  it  loofe,  and  flov^ing 
in  riDgleis  oi/er  their  (boulders ;  but  after  marriage 
they  cut  it  fliorter,  tied  it  up,  and  covered  it  with  a 
head-drels,  accord:.^g  to  thefafliion  of  the  times;  but 
to  have  the  hair  cut  entirely  oft',  was  a  difgrace  of 
fuch  a  nature,  that  it  was  even  thought  a  punilhment 
not  inadequate  to  the  crime  of  adultery :  f )  great,  in 
the  Middle  Ages,  was  the  value  fet  upon  the  hair  by 
both  fexes,  that,  as  a  piece  of  the  moft  peculiar  mor- 
tification, it  was  ordered  by  the  canons  of  the  church, 
that  the  cl::rgy  fhould  keep  their  hair  (hort,  and  Ihave 
the  crown  of  their  head ;  and  that  they  fliould  not, 
upon  any  pretence  whatever^  endeavour  to  keep  the 
part  fo  maved  from  trie  public  view.  Many  of  the 
clergy  of  thele  times,  finding  theinJclves  fo  peculiarly 
mortified,  and  perhaps  foeafily  diftinguifhed  from  all 
other  people  by  this  particularity,  as  to  be  readily 
detected  when  they  committed  any  of  the  follies  or 
crimes  to  which  human  nature  is  in  every  fituatiou 
fometimes  liable,  endeavoured  to  perfuade  mankind, 
that  long  hair  was  criminal,  in  order  to  reduce  the 
whole  to  a  fimilarity  with  themfeives.  Amongft 
thefe,  St.  Wulitan  emipcnily  diflinguKhed  himfelf  ^ 
*' He  rebuked,"  fays  William  of  Malmlbury,  "the 
wicked  of  all  ranks  wi:h  great  boldnefs ;  but  was 
particularly  fevere  upon  thofe  who  were  proud  of 
their  long  hair.  When  any  of  thefe  vain  people 
bowed  their  heads  before  him,  to  receive  his  blefling, 
before  he  gave  it  he  cut  a  lock  from  their  hair,  with 
a  Iharp  pen-knife,  which  he  carried  about  him  for  that 
I>urpoIe ;  and  commanded  t'lem,  by  way  of  penance* 
for  their  fins,  to  cut  all  the  reft  in  ilie  fame  manner ; 


2Bo  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

if  any  of  them  refufed  to  comply  with  his  command 
iie  reproached  them  for  their  effeminacy,  and  denoun- 
ced tiie  moft  dreadful  judgments  agiainll  them.  Such, 
however,  was  the  value  of  the  hair  in  thole  davs, 
that  many  rather  fubmitted  to  his  cenfures,  than  part 
with  It;  and  fuch  was  the  folly  of  the  church, and 
of  this  (kint  in  particular,  that  the  moft  folemn  jadg^ 
msnts  were  denounced  againfl  multitudes,  for  no 
other  crim.e  than  ^  not  making  ufe  of  pen-knives  and 
icillars,  to  cut  off  an  ornament  beftowed  by  nature. 


=^^^= 


CHAP.    LXXIIL 


iSi*.  Falsnti/ie's   Day-^-lmnode/iy  at  Bahyhv — hJeancy  at 
j^drianople — The  two  Kings  of^wedcn. 


o= 


_  FN  St.  Valentine's  day,  it  is  cuffomary,  in 
many  parts  of  Italy,  for  an  unmarried  lady  tochufe, 
from  among  the  young  gentlemen  of  her  acquain- 
tance, one  to  be  her  guardian  or  gallant ;  who,  in 
return  for  the  honour  cf  this  appointment,  prefents 
to  her  fome  nofeg£ys,  or  other  trifles,  and  thereby 
obliges  himfelf  to  attend  her  in  the  moft  obfequious 
manner  in  all  her  parties  ofpleafure,  and  to  all  her 
public  am\/ements,  for  the  fpace  of  one  year,  when 
he  may  retire,  and  the  lady  may  chufe  another  in  his 
place.  But  in  the  courfe  of  this  conneftion^  it  fre- 
iiently  happens,  that  they  contraft  fuch  an  inclina- 
on  to  each  other,  as  prompts  them  to  be  coupled 
for  life.  In  the  times  of  the  chivalry,  we  have  feea 
rhat  the  men  gloried  in  protecting  the  women,  and 
the  women  thought  themfelves  fafe  and  happy  whea 
they  obtained  that  proteftion.  It  is  probable,  there- 
fore, that  this  cuftom,  though  now  more  an  affair  of 
gallantry  than  of  proteftion,  is  a  relic  of  chivalry 
ftiil  fubfifting  among  that  romantic  and  featimen:ai 
people. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  281 

But  the  obfervation  of  feme  peculiar  cufcoms  on 
Sf.  Valentine's  day  is  not  confin  d  to  Italy ;  almoft 
all  Europe  has  joined  in  diftinguifhing  it  byfomepar- 
ticular  ceremony.  As  it  always  happens  about  that 
time  of  the  yearj  when  the  genial  influences  of  the 
fpring  begin  to  operate,  it  has  been  believed  by  the 
vulgar,  that  upon  it  the  birds  invariably  chufe  their 
mates  for  the  enfuing  feaibn.  In  imitation,  there- 
fore, of  their  example,  the  vulgar  of  both  fexes,  in 
many  parts ot  Britain,  meet  together;  and  having 
upon  Hips  of  paper  wrote  down  the  names  of  all  their 
acquaintances,  and  puc  them  into  tv/o  dilieren:  bags, 
the  men  drew  the  female  names  by  lot,  and  the  Wo- 
men the  mule  ;  the  man  makes  the  woman  who  drew 
his  name,  fome  trilling  prelent,  and  in  the  rural  gam- 
bol becomes  her  partner  ;  and  fhe  confiders  him  as 
her  fweerheart,  till  he  is  otherwiie  difpofed  of,  or  till 
next  Valentine's  day  provide  her  wi.h  another, 

THAT  modefly  and  chaft-ty,  which  we  now 
erteera  as  the  chief  ornament  of  the  female  charafter, 
does  not  appear  in  times  of  remote  antiquity  to  have 
been  much  regarded  by  either  fex.  At  Babylon,  the 
capital  of  the  AfTyrian  empire,  it  was  fo  little  valued, 
that  a  law  of  the  country  even  obliged  every  woman 
once  in  her  life  to  depart  from  it.  This  abominable 
law,  which,  it  is  faid,  v/as  promulgated  by  an  cra- 
r!e,  ordained.  That  every  woman  (liould  once  in  her 
;e  repciir  to  the  temple  of  Venus  ;  that  on  her  arri- 
val t'.ere,  her  head  fhould  he  crowned  witR  flowers, 
and  in  that  attire,  (he  fhould  wait  till  fome  ftranger 
p( . ''  I  with  her  the  rites  facred  to  the  goddefs  of 
tl^  :y. 

iiiis  temple  was  conflru(f^ed  with  a  great  many 
winding  galleries  appropriated  to  the  reception  of  the 
women,  and  the  ftrangers  who,  allured  by  debauche- 
ry, never  filled  to  afl'embls  there  in  great  numbers, 
being  allowed  to  chufe  any  woman  they  thought 
proper  from  among  thofe  who  came  there  in  obedU 
iXIV  2 


282  SKETCHES  of  thk  SEX. 

ence  to  the  law.  ^  When  the  ftranger  accofted  the 
objeft  of  his  choice,  he  WHS  obliged  to  prefent  her 
with  ibme  pieces  of  money,  nor  was  Ihe  at  liberty  to 
refufe  either  thefe,  or  the  requeit  of  the  flranger 
who  offered  them,  whatever  was  the  value  of  the 
money,  or  however  mean  or  diGsgreeable  the  donor. 
Thefe  preliminaries  being  fettled,  they  retired  toge- 
ther to  fulfil  the  law,  after  which  the  woman  returned 
and  offered  the  goddefs  the  facrifice  prefcribed  by 
culiom,  and  then  was  at  liberty  to  return  home.  Nor 
was  this  cuilom  entirely  confined  to  the  Babylonians ; 
in  the  iilaad  of  Cyprus  Ihey  fent  young  women  at 
ftated  times  to  the  lea-fhcre,  v/here  they  prollituted 
rhemlelves  as  a  tribute  to  Venus,  that  they  might  be 
chafte  the  reft  of  their  lives.  In  iome  other  countries, 
a  certain  number  only  were  doomed  to  proftitution, 
as  it  is  fupp:;fed,  by  way  of  a  bribe,  to  induce  the 
goddefe  of  debauchery  to  fave  the  reft. 

When  a  woman  had  once  entered  the  temple  of 
Venus,  fne  was  not  allowed  to  depart  from  it  till  fhe 
had  fuilfilled  the  law :  and  it  frequently  happened 
that  thofe  to  v/hom  nature  had  been  lefs  indulgent 
than  to  others,  remained  there  a  bng  time  before 
any  perfon  offered  to  perform  with  them  the  condi- 
tion of  their  releafe.  A  cufLom,  we  think,  fometimes: 
Tilluded  to  in  fcrip:ure,  and  expiefsly  delineated  in  thfe 
book  of  Baruch:  "The  wc  en  alfo,  with  cords 
about  them,  fitting  in  the  ways,  burn  bran  for  per- 
fame ;  but^  if  any  of  them,  drawn  by  fome  that  paf- 
lerhby,  lie  with  him,  flie  reproached  i  er  fellow  that 
file  was  not  thought  as  worthy  as  herfelf,  nor  her 
cord  broken."  Though  this  infamous  law  was  at 
firft  fcricUy  obferved  by  all  the  women  of  Babylon, 
yet  it  would  feem  that,  in  length  of  time,  they  grew 
alhamedof,  and  in  m.any  cafes  d'lpenfed  with  it;  for 
vre  are  informed  that  women  of  the  fuperior  tanks- 
of  life,  who  were  not  willing  literally  to  fulfil  the 
law,v/ere  allowed  a  kindof  evation;  they  were  carried 
in  litters  to  the  gates  of  the  tw.ple,  where^  haYiug 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  28^3 

difmifled  allthe'r  atteadants,they  entered  alone,  pre- 
fented  themfelves  before  the  ftatue  of  the  goddefs, 
and  returned  home.  Poflibly  this  was  done  by 
the  ailiftance  of  a  bribe,  to  thofe  who  had  the  care 
of  the  temple, 

IN  Adrianople  and  the  neighboring  cities,  the  wo- 
men have  public  baths,  which  are  a  part  of  their  reli- 
gion and  of  their  amulement,  and  a  bride,  the  firll 
time  fhe  appears  there  after  her  marriage,  is  received 
in  a  p?-riicular  manner.  The  matrons  and  widows 
being  feated  round  the  room,  the  virgins  immediate- 
ly put  themfelves  into  the  original  ftate  of  Eve.  The 
bride  comes  to  the  door  richly  dreffcd  and  adorned 
with  jewels;  two  of  the  virgins  meet  her,and  foon  put 
her  in  the  fame  condition  with  themfelves;  thenfillhig 
fome  filver  pots  with  perfume,  they  make  a  proceflioa 
round  the  rooms,  finging  an  epithalamium,  in  which 
all  I  he  virgins  join  in  chorus;  the  proceffion  ended, 
the  bride  is  led  up  to  every  matron,  who  bellows  on 
her  (ome  trifling  prefents,  and  to  each  llie  returns 
thanks,  till  fhe  has  been  led  round  the  whole.  We 
could  add  many  more  ceremonies  arifing  from  mar- 
riage, but  as  they  are  for  the  mofc  pare  fuch  as  make 
a  part  of  the  marriage  ceremony  itfelf,  we  ihall  have 
occafnn  to  mention  them  with  more  propriety  aftcr- 


THE  young  women  of  the  nations  we  are  con- 
fid"'-'  zot  relying  upon  what  iame  had  reported 
Co  ,  the  acquifitions  of  their  lovers,  frequent- 

ly a-^urea  to  be  themfelves  the  witneflesof  them,  and 
the  youcg  men  were  not  lefs  eager  in  feizing  every 
opportunity  to  gratify  their  defires.  This  is  abun- 
dantly proved  by  an  anecdote  in  the  hiftory  of 
Charles  and  Grymer,  two  kings  of  Sweden : 

"Grymer,  a  youth  early  diflinguifhed  in  arms, 
who  well  knew  how  to  dye  his  fword  in  the  blood  ot 
his  eaemi^s^  to  rua  gver  the  craggy  mouataiusj  to 


tiB4  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

wreflle,  to  play  at  chefs,  trace  the  motions  of  the 
ftars,  and  throw  far  from  him  heavy  weights,  fre- 
quently fhewed  his  ikill  in  the  chamber  of  the  dam- 
fels,  before  the  king's  lovely  daughter ;  defirous  of 
acquiring  her  regard,  he  difplayed  his  dexterity  in 
handling  his  weapons,  and  the  knowledge  he  had  at- 
tained in  the  fciences  he  had  learned  ;  at  length  he 
ventured  to  make  this  demand  :  "  Wilt  thou,  O  fair 
princefs,  if  I  may  obtain  the  king's  confent,  accept 
of  me  for  a  hulband  r"  To  whichfhe  prudently  repli- 
ed, "1  muft  not  make  that  choice  myfelf,but  go  theu 
and  oifer  the  fame  propofal  to  my  father/' 

The  fequel  of  the  ftory  informs  us,  that  Grymer 
accordingly  made  his  propofal  to  the  king,  who  an- 
fwered  him  in  a  rage,  that  though  he  had  learned  in- 
deed to  handle  his  arms,  yet  as  he  had  never  gained 
a  fingle  viftory,  ncr  given  a  banquet  to  the  beaits  of 
the  field,  he  had  no  pretenfions  to  his  daughter,  and 
concluded  by  pointing  out  to  him,  in  a  neighbouring 
kingdom,  a  hero  renowned  in  arms,  whom,  if  he 
could  conquer,  the  princefs  fhould  be  given  him  :  that 
on  v/aiting  on  the  princefs  to  tell  her  what  had  paff- 
ed,  (lie  was  greatly  agitated,  and  felt  ia  the  mod  fen- 
fible  manner  for  the  fofety  of  her  lover,  whom  fhe 
was  afraid  her  father  had  devoted  to  death  for  his 
prefumption  ;  that  Ihe  provided  him  with  a  fuit*  of 
impenetrable  armoqr  and  a  truHy  fword,  with  which 
he  went,  and  having  llain  his  adverfary,  and  the  molt 
part  of  his  warriors,  returned  viftorious,  and  receiv- 
ed her  as  the  reward  of  h:s  valour.  Singular  as  this 
method  of  olitainlng  a  fair  lady  by  a  price  paid  ia 
blood  may  appear,  it  was  not  peculiar  to  the  north* 
erns  :  we  have  already  taken  notice  of  the  price  which 
David  p?.id  for  the  daughter  of  Saul,  and  Ihall  add, 
that  among  the  Sacne,  a  people  of  ancient  Scy  thia,  a 
cullom  fomething  (;f  this  kind,  but  ftiU  more  extra- 
ordinary, obtained :  every  young  m^n  v/ho  made 
his  addreffes  to  a  lady,  was  obliged  to  engage  her  ia 
fingle  combat  j  if  he  vanquifc^d,  he  led  her  off  ia  uU 


SKETCHES  Of  the  SEX.  285 

^mph,  and  became  her  huibaud  and  fovereign  ;  if 
lie  was  conquered,  fhe  led  him  ofi'in  the  fame  man- 
aer,  and  made  him  her  hulband  and  her  flave. 


=£sp;s^= 


CKAP.   LXXIV. 


TU  Lapland  and  Greenland  Lady — Sale  of  Children  to  pur^ 
chafe  Wives — Plurality  and  Community  of  IFivcS"^ 
Girls  foLi  at  AuClion* 

X  HE  dtiicacy  of  a  Lapland  lady,  which  is  not 
ill  the  ledt  hurt  by  being  drunk  as  often  as  (he  can 
procure  hquor,  would  be  wounded  in  the  moit  fenfi- 
ble  manner,  fhould  fhe  deign  at  firft  to  liften  to  the 
declaration  of  a  lover ;  he  is  therefore  obliged  to  em- 
ply  a  match-maker  to  {peak  for  him ;  and  this  match- 
maker muft  never  go  empty-handed :  and  of  all  other 
prefents,  that  which  moft  infallibly  lecures  him  a  fa- 
vourable reception,  is  brandy.  Having,  by  the  elo- 
quence of  this,  gained  leave  to  bring  the  lover  along 
with  him,  and  being,  together  with  the  lover's  father 
or  other  neareft  male  relation,  arrived  at  the  houfe 
where  the  lady  refides,  the  father  and  match-maker 
are  invired  to  walk  in,  but  the  lover  muft  wait  pa- 
tiently at  the  door  till  further  folicited.  The  parties, 
in  the  mean  time,  open  their  fuit  to  the  other  ladies 
of  the  family,  not  forgetting  to  employ  in  their  fa- 
vour their  irrefiftable  advocate  brandy,  a  liberal  dif- 
tribution  of  which  is  reckoned  the  ftrongelt  proof  of 
the  lover's  affection.  AVhen  they  have  all  been  warm- 
ed by  the  lover's  bounty,  he  is  brought  into  the 
houfe,  pays  his  compliments  to  the  family,  and  is  de- 
fired  to  partake  of  their  cheer,  though  at  this  inter- 
view (eldom  indulged  with  a  fight  of  his  miftrefs ;  but 
if  he  is,  he  falutes  her,  and  offers  her  prefents  of  rein- 
deer Ikins,  tongues,  &:c. ;  all  which,  while4Urround. 


285  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

ed  with  her  friends,  flie  pretends  to  refufe ;  bat  at 
the  iame  time  giving  her  lover  a  iignal  to  go  out,  ihe 
foon  fleals  after  him,  and  is  no  more  thatmodelt  crea- 
ture fhe  ailefted  to  appear  in  company.  I'he  lover 
now  foHcits  for  the  completion  of  his  wilhes  ;  if  ihe 
is  filent,  it  is  confirued  into  confent ;  but  if  fhe 
throws  his  prefents  on  the  ground  with  difdain,  the 
match  is  broke  oil  for  ever. 

It  is  generally  obfcrved,  that  women  enter  into 
xnatrimony  with  more  wiliingnefs,  and  lefs  anxious 
care  and  folicitude,  than  men,  for  which  many  rea- 
fons  naturally  Ibggefl:  themfelves  to  the  intelligent 
reader.  The  women  of  Greenland  are  however,  in 
many  cafes,  an  exception  to  this  general  rule.  A 
Greenlander,  having  fixed  his  affeftion,  acquaints 
his  parents  with  it ;  they  ac(iuaint  the  parents  of  the 
girl ;  upon  which  two  female  negociators  are  fent 
to  her,  who,  left  they  fhould  (hock  her  delicacy,  do 
not  enter  direftly  on  "the  fubjeit  of  their  embally,  but 
launch  out  in  prailes  of  the  lover  they  mean  to  re- 
comm^end,  of  his  houfe,  of  his  furniture,  and  what- 
ever elfe  belongs  to  him,  but  dwell  moft  particularly 
on  his  dexterity  in  catching  of  foals'.  She,  pretending 
to  be  affronted,  runs  away,  tearing  the  ringlets  of 
her  hair  as  fhe  retires ;  after  which  the  two  females, 
having  obtained  a  tacit  confent  from  her  parents-, 
learch  for  her,  and  on  difcovering  her  lurking-place, 
drag  her  by  force  to  the  houfe  of  her  lover,  and  there 
leave  her.  For  fome  days  Ihe  fits  with  dilhrivelled 
hair,  filent  and  dejefted,  refufing  every  kind  of  fuf- 
tenance,  and  at  laft,  if  kind  entreaties  cannot  prevail 
upon  her,  is  compelled  by  force,  and  even  by  blows, 
to  complete  the  marriage  with  her  hufband.  It  fome- 
times  happens,  that  when  the  female  match-makers 
arrive  to  propofe  a  lover  to  a  Greenland  young  wo- 
xnan,  fhe  either  faints,  or  efcapes  to  the  uninhabited 
mountains,  where  fhe  remains  till  ihe  is  difcovered 
and  carried  back  by  her  relations,  or  is  forced  to  re- 
turn by  hunger  and  cold  j  in  both  w^hich  cafeS:>  Ihe 


SKETCHES  CF  the  SEX.  ^87 

previoufly  cuts  off  her  hair ;  a  moft  infallible  indica- 
tion, that  (he  is  determined  never  to  marry. 

IN  Timor,  an  ifland  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  it  is 
faid,  that  parents  fell  ^heir  children  in  order  to  pur- 
chafe  more  wives.  In  CircaiTia,  women  are  reared 
and  improved  in  beauty  and  every  alluring  art,  only 
for  the  purpofe  of  being  fold.  The  prince  of  the 
Circaffians  demanded  from  the  prince  of  Mingrelia  an 
hundred  flaves  loaded  with  tapeftry,  an  hundred 
CoWs,  as  many  oxen,  ?.nd  the  fame  number  of  horfes, 
as  the  price  of  his  fifter.  In  New-Zealand,  we  meet 
with  a  cuftcm  which  may  be  called  purchafing  a  wife 
for  a  night,  and  which  is  a  proof  that  thofe  mud  alfo 
be  purchafed  who  are  intended  for  a  longer  duration ; 
and  wiat  to  us  is  a  httle  furprifing,  this  temporary- 
wife,  infilled  upon  being  treated  with  as  much  defer- 
ence and  refpeft,  as  if  the  hid  been  married  for  life  ; 
but  in  general,  this  i^  not  t'^e  cafe  in  other  countries, 
for  rhe  wife  who  is  purchafed,  is  always  trained  up 
in  tf.e  principles  of  ilaverv ;  and,  being  inured  to 
every  indignity  and  mortification  from  her  parents, 
(he  expecl-s  no  betcer  treatment  from  her  hulband. 

There  is  little  difference  in  the  condition  of  her 
who  is  put  to  fale  by  her  fordid  parents,  and  her  who 
IS  difpoied  of  in  the  fime  manner  by  the  magiftrates, 
as  a  part  of  the  liate^s  property.  Befides  thofe  we 
have  already  mentioned  in  this  work,  the  Thracian."? 
put  the  fairelt  of  their  virgins  up  to  public  fale,  and 
the  magiftrates  of  C'rete  had  the  folc  power  of  cha- 
fing partners  in  marriage  for  their  young  men ;  and, 
in  the  cxecuMon  of  this  power,  the  affection  and  in- 
terdl  r  rties  was  totally  overlooked,  and  the 

pood  '  ■  ^  the  only  object  of  attention  ;  in  pur- 

l>r  ',  they  always  allotted  the  llrongeit  and 

hi.  _  of  the  lex  to  one  another,  that  they  might 

raile  up  a  genera*  ion  of  warriors,  or  of  women  fit  to 


aSS  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

POLYGAMY  and  concubinage  having  in  procefs 
of  time  become  f afhionable  vices,the  number  of  women 
kept  by  tiie  great  became  at  laft  more  an  article  of 
grandeur  and  ftate,  than  a  mode  of  fatisfying  the  ani« 
raal  appetite  :  Solomon  had  threefcore  queens,  and 
fourfcore  concubines,  and  virgins  without  number. 
Maimon  tells  us,  that  among  the  Jews  a  man  might 
have  as  many  wives  as  he  plcafed,  even  to  the  num- 
ber of  a  hundred,  and  that  it  was  not  in  their  power 
to  prevent  him,  provided  he  could  maintain,  and  pay 
them  all  the  conjugal  debt  once  a  week ;  but  in  ihis 
duty  he  was  not  to  run  in  arrear  to  any  of  them 
above  a  month,  though  with  regard  to  concubines  he 
m^ght  do  as  he  pleafed. 

It  would  be  an  endlefs  talk  to  enumerate  all  the 
nations  which  praftifed  polygamy ;  we  fhall,  there- 
fore^ only  mention  a  few,  where  the  practice  feemed 
to  vary  fomething  from  the  common  method.  The 
ancient  Sabasans  are  not  only  faid  to  have  had  a  plu- 
rality, but  even  a  community  of  wives ;  a  thing 
ftrongly  inconfillent  with  that  fpirit  of  jealoufyvThich 
prevails  among  the  men  in  moft  countries  where  po- 
lygamy is  allowed.  The  ancient  Germans  were  fo 
ftria  monogamifts,*  that  they  reckoned  it  a  fpecies 
of  p-^lygamy  for  a  woman  to  marry  a  fecond  hulband, 
even  after  the  death  of  the  firft.  "  A  woman  (lay  they) 
has  but  one  life,  and  but  one  body,  therefore  fhould 
have  but  one  hufband  ;"  and  belides,  they  added, 
*'  that  (he  who  knows  fhe  is  never  to  have  a  fecond 
hulband,  will  the  more  value  and  endeavour  to  pro- 
mote the  happinefs  and  preferve  the  life  of  the  iirft.'* 
Among  the  Heruli  this  idea  was  carried  farther,  a 
woman  WPS  obliged  to  flrangle  herfelf  at  the  death  of 
her  hufband,  left  fhe  (hould  afterwards  marry  ano- 
ther ;  f3  di.  teftable  was  polygamy  in  the  North,  while 
in  the  Eaftit  h  one  of  thefe  rights  which  they  moii 
of  all  ctheri;  efleem,  and  maintain  with  luch  innexible 
firmnefs,  that  it  will  probably  be  one  of  the  laft  cf 
thofe  th;U  it  will  wreft  out  of  their  hands. 

*  Monogamy  is  having  onI>  onz  wife. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  2^^ 

The  Egyptians,  it  is  probable,  did  not  allow  of 
polygamy,  and  as  tne  Greeks  borrowed  their  inltitu- 
tioDs  from  them,  it  was  alio  forbid  by  the  laws  of 
Cecrops,  though  concubinage  leems  either  to  have 
been  allowed  or  overlooked  ;  for  in  the  Odyffey  of 
Homer  we  fmd  UlyfTes  declaring  himfelf  to  be  the 
fon  of  a  concubine,  which  he  would  probably  not 
have  done,  bad  any  great  degree  of  infamy  been  an- 
nexed to  it.  In  ibme  cafes,  however,  polygamy  was 
allowed  in  Greece,  from  a  miftaken  not  in  that  it 
would  increafe  population.  The  Athenians,  once 
thinking  thS  number  of  their  citizens  diminiihed,  de-* 
creed  that  it  fliould  be  lawful  for  a  man  to  have  chil- 
dren by  another  woman  as  well  as  by  his  wife ;  be- 
fides  this,  particular  irftances  occur  of  fome  who 
tranfgreffeJ  the  law  of  monogamy.  Euripides  is  faid 
to  have  had  two  wives,  who,  by  their  conftant  difa- 
greement,  gave  him  a  diilike  to  tl»e  whole  fex  ;  afup- 
p.^fition  which  receives  fome  weight  from  thefe  lines 
of  his  in  Andromache: 


-ne'er  will  I  commend 


More  beds,  more  wives  than  one,  nor  children  curs'd 
With  double  mothers,  banes  and  plagues  of  life. 

Socrates  too  had  two  wives,  but  the  poor  culprit  had 
as  much  realbn  to  repent  of  his  temerity  as  Euri- 
pides. 

THE  ancient  Aflyrians  feem  more  thoroughly 
to  have  fettled  and  digefted  the  affairs  of  marriage, 
than  any  of  their  cotemporaries.  Once  in  every 
year  they  aflembled  together  all  the  girls  that  were 
marriageble,  when  the  public  crier  put  them  up  to 
fale,  one  after  another.  For  her  whofe  figure  was 
agreeable,  and  wUofe  beauty  was  attrafting,  the  rich 
ftroveagainfl  each  other,  whofhould  give  the  higheft 
price  ;  which  price  was  put  into  a  public  ftcck,  and 
diftriSuted  in  portions  to  thofe  whom  nature  had  lef^ 
Iiberrlly  acccmpffhed,  and  whom  nobody  would  ac- 
cept without  a  reward.  After  the  mofl  beautiful 
XXV 


-90  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX^ 

^vere  difpofed  of,  thefe  were  alfo  put  np  by  the  crier, 
and  a  certain  fum  of  money  offered  with  each,  pro- 
portioned to  what  it  was  thought  {he  flood  in  need 
of  to  bribe  a  hufband  to  accept  her.  When  a  man 
offered  to  accept  of  any  of  them,  on  the  terms  upon 
wl.ich  ills  was  expofed  to  fale,  the  crier  proclaimed, 
that  fuch  a  man  had  prcpcfed  to  take  fuch  a  woman, 
wiih  fuch  a  fum  of  money  along  with  her,  provided 
none  could  be  found  who  would  take  her  with  lefs  ; 
and  in  this  manner  the  fale  went  on,  till  ihe  was  at 
laft  allotted  to  him  who  ofl'ered  to  take  her  with  the 
imalleft  portion. — When  this  public  lale  was  over, 
the  purchafcrs  of  thofa  that  were  beautiful  were  not 
allowed  to  take  them  away,  till  they  had  paid  down 
the  price  agreed  on,  and  given  fufficient  fecurity  that 
they  would  marry  them ;  nor,  on  the  other  hand, 
would  th:  fe  who  were  to  have  a  premium  for  accept- 
ing of  fuch  as  were  kfs  beautiful,  take  a  delivery  of 
'them,  till  their  portions  were  previoufly  paid.  It  is 
probable,  that,  this  fale  brought  together  too  ;^reat 
multitudes  of  people  from  inconvenient  diftan.,*  s,  to 
the  detriment,  perhaps,  of  agriculture  and  commerce, 
,and  that  flrangers  could  not  give  fufficient  fecur  :y  to 
fulfil  the  bargains  they  had  made;  for  a  law  wasaf- 
terwards  iifued,  prohibitir.g  the  inhabitants  of  differ- 
ent diftricls  from  intermarrying  v;i=  h  er.ch  other,  and 
ordaining,  that  hufbands  fhould  not  ufe  their  wives 
'511 ;  a  vap^ue  kind  of  ordonnaroe,  which  (hews  how 
•  imperfeclly  legiflation  was  underftood  among  thofe 
people. 


T^^iS^^ 


CHAP.    LXXV. 


PwiiJItnent   of  Adultery — Anecdote  of  Cafar — Ps^ver   tf 
Marrying^  ifc\ — Celibacy  ojthe  Clergy. 

jr\^S  fidelity  to  the  marri:  jre-bed,  efpecially  en 
the  part  of  the  woman,  has  always  been  ccnfidexed 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  29? 

as  one  of  the  moft  eflential  duties  of  matrimony,  all. 
wifelegiflhtor?,  in  crder  to  fecnre  that  fidelity,  h?.ve 
annexed  fome  punifhment  to  the  breach  of  it ;  thefe 
punifhmeots,  however,  have  generally  Tome  reference 
to  the  manner  in  which  wives  were  acquired,  and  to 
the  value  ftamped  upon  women  by  civilization  and  po- 
liteuefs  of  manners.  It  is  ordained  by  the  Mofaic 
code,  that  both  the  man  and  the  woman  taken  in 
adultery  fhall  be  ftoned  to  death;  whence  it  would 
feem,  that  no  more  latitude  was  given  to  the  male- 
then  to  the  fem-ile.  Bat  this  was  not  the  cafe ;  fuch 
an  unlimited  power  of  Cv-^ncubinage  was  given  to  the 
men,  that  we  may  fuppofe  him  highly  licentious  in- 
deed, who  could  not  be  fatisfied  tiierewith,  without 
committing  adultery.  The  Egyptians,  among  whom 
women  were  greatly  efteemed,  had  a  Angular  me- 
thod of  panifhing  adulterers  of  both  fexes  ;  they  cut 
oiF  the  privy  parts  of  the  man,  that  he  might  never 
be  able  to  aebauch  another  woman  ;  and  the  ncfeof 
the  woman,  that  fhe  might  never  be  the  objeft  of 
terapta'ion  to  another  man. 

Punifhmeats  nearly  of  the  fame  nature,  and  per- 
haps ne  .rly  about  the  fame  time,  were  inftituted  in: 
the  Eaft  Indies  againft  adulterers ;  but  while  thofe 
of  the  Egyptians  originated  from  a  love  of  virtue  and 
of  their  women,  thofe  of  the  Hindoos  probably  arole 
from  jealcufy  and  revenge.  It  is  ordained  by  the 
Shafter,  that  if  a  man  commit  adultery  with  a  wo- 
man of  a  fuperlor  cafl,  hs  (hall  be  put  to  death  ;  if  by 
force  he  commit  adultery  with  a  woman  of  an  equal 
or  inferior  caft,  the  magiflra'e  fhall  coufifcate  all  his 
poff  flions,  cut  off  his  genitals,  and  caufe  him  to  be 
carried  round  the  city,  mounted  en  an  afs.  If  by 
fraud  he  commit  adultery  with  a  woman  of  an  equal 
or  inferior  caft,  the  magifirate  (hall  take  his  poflef- 
fnns,  brand  him  in  the  forehead,  and  banifh  him  the 
kingdom.  Such  are  the  laws  of  the  Shailer,  ib  far 
as  they  regard  all  the  fuperior  cafts,  except  the  Bra- 
mins  ;  butif  any  of  the  mod  inferior  cafts  commit 


^92  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

adultery  with  a  woman  of  the  cails  greatly  fuperior, 
he  is  not  only  to  be  difmembered,  but  tied  to  a  hot 
iron  plate, and  burnt  to  death;  whereas  thehigheit 
cafts  may  commit  adultery  with  the  very  loweft,  for 
the  moft  trifling  fiae  ;  and  a  Bramin,  or  priett,  can 
only  fuffer  by  having  the  hair  of  his  head  cut  off; 
and,  like  the  clergy  of  Europe,  while  under  the  do- 
minion of  ihe  Pope,  he  cannot  be  put  to  death  for  any 
crim^  v/hatever.  But  the  laws,  of  which  he  it  al- 
wajo  the  interpreter,  are  not  fo  favourable  to  his 
wife  ;  they  inflict  a  fevere  di^/grace  upon  her,  if  fhe 
commit  adultery  with  any  of  the  higher  call ;  but  if 
with  t'^.e  l.)vveft,  the  raaglftrate  Ihall  cut  off  her  hair, 
anoint  her  body  with  Ghee,  and  caule  her  to  be  car- 
ried  through  the  whole  city,  naked,  and  riding  upon 
an  afs ;  and  (hall  calf  her  out  on  the  north  fide  of 
the  city,  or  caufe  her  to  be  eaten  by  dogs.  If  a  wo- 
nan  of  any  of  the  other  calis  goes  to  a  man,  and  en- 
tices him  to  have  criminal  correfpondence  with  her, 
the  magiftrate  Ihall  cut  off  her  ears,  lips  and  nofe, 
mount  her  upon  an  afs,  and  drown  her,  or  throw  her 
to  the  dogs.  To  the  commiffion  of  adultery  with  a 
dancing^girl,  orproftitute,  no  punifhment  nor  line  is 
anne.^ed. 


WHEN  Ccefar  hid  fubdued  all  his  competitors, 
and  mo^l  of  the  foreign  nations  which  made  war 
againilhim,  he  found  that  fo  many  Romans  had  beea 
dellroyed  in  the  quarrels  in  which  he  had  often  en- 
gaged them,  that,  to  repair  the  lofs,  promifed  re- 
wards to  fathers  of  families,  and  forbade  all  Romans 
who  were  above  twenty,  and  under  forty  years  of 
age,  to  go  out  of  their  native  country.  Auguftus, 
hisfucceffor,  to  check  the  debauchery  of  the  Roman 
youth,  laid  heavy  taxes  upon  fuch  as  conunued  un- 
married after  a  certain  age,  and  encouraged  with 
great  rewards,  the  procreation  of  lawful  children. 
Som.e  years  afterwards,  the  Roman  knights  having 
prellingly  petitioned  him  that  he  would  reliix  the  fe- 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX*  29^ 

venly  of  thit  law,  he  ordered  their  whole  fcody  ta 
afTemble  before  him,  and  the  married  and  unmarried 
to  arrange  themfelves  in  two  i'eparate  parties,  when, 
obferving  the  uiimarried  to  be  the  much  greater  com- 
pany, he  firft  addrelled  thoCe  who  had  complied  with 
his  law,  telling  thera.  That  they  alone  had  ferved  the 
purpDfes  of  nature  and  ibciety;  that  the  human  race 
was  created  male  and  female  to  prevent  the  extinc- 
tion of  the  fp^cies  ;  and  that  marriage  was  contrived 
as  the  moll  proper  method  of  renewing  the  childrea 
of  that  fpecies.  He  added,  that  they  alone  deferved 
the  name  of  men  and  fathers,  and  that  lie  would  pre- 
fer them  to  fuch  offices  as  they  niight  tranfmit  to 
thjir  poflerity.  Then  turning  to  the  batchelors,  he 
told  thera,  Thut  he  knew  not  by  what  name  to  call 
them ;  not  by  that  of  men,  for  th.y  had  done  nothing 
that  was  manly  ;  nor  by  that  of  citizens,  fmce  the 
citv  m^r'U  Dcrifh  for  them  ;  nor  by  that  of  Romans, 
i')^  t  !  determined  to  Jet  the  race  and  name 

I  lut  by  whatever  name  he  called 

I  he  laid,  equalled  all  other  crimes 

uhiy  Were  guilty  of  murder,  in  not 
to  be  bom  who  Ihould  proceed  from 
T    ;\:  ;  c  :    ml  piety,  ia  abohlhing  the  names  and  ho- 
n.).    s  of  their  fathers  and  anceitors  ;  of  i'acrilege,  in 
ir  fpecies,  and  human  nature,  whidi 
:al  to  the  gods,  and  was  confecrated 
to  ili^u  ,  thi:  hv  \i2d\uir[\  lini;!^  Ufe  they  overturn* 
cd,  a^  far  as  in  them  lay,  liie  temples  and  altars  of  the 
pods-,  diflolved  the  government,  by  difobcying  its: 
laws  ;  betrayed  their  couHtr}%  by  making  it  barren, 
i  laving  ended  his  Ip^ecn,  ho  doubled  the  rewards 
nd  privileges  of  fuch  as  had  children,  and  laid  a  hea- 
.y  fine  on  all  unmarried  perfons,  by  reviving  the  Vo- 
pxan  law. 

Though  by  this  law  all  the  males  above  a  cer- 
tain age  were  obliged  to  marry  under  a  fevere  penal- 
ty, Auguftus  allowed  them  the  fpace  of  a  full  year  to 
comply  with  iu  demands ;  but  fugh  was  the  back- 


294  SKETCHES  of  the  SEX. 

wardaefs  to  matrimony,  and  perverfity  of  the  Ro- 
)naa  knights,  and  others,  that  every  poilible  method 
was  taken  to  evade  the  penalty  inflicted  upon  them, 
r.nd  Ibme  of  them  even  married  children  in  the  cradle 
for  that  purpofe ;  thus  fulfilling  the  letter,  they  avoid- 
ed the  fpirit  of  the  law,  and  though  actually  married, 
had  00^  reftraint  upon  their  licentioufnefs,  nor  any 
incumSrauce  by  the  expeace  of  a  family. 

AMONG  nations  which  had  fhaken  off  the  au- 
thority of  the  church  of  Rome,  theprieits  ftill  retained 
almoft  an  exclufive  power  of  joining  men  and  women 
together  in  marriage.  This  appears  rather,  however, 
to  have  been  by  the  tacit  confent  of  the  civil  power, 
than  from  any  defec):  in  its  right  and  authority ;  for 
in  the  time  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  marriages  were 
folemnized  frequenriy  by  the  jullices  of  the  peace  ; 
and  the  clergy  neither  attempted  to  invalidate  them, 
por  to  m?ike  the  children  proceeding  from  them  ille- 
gitimate ;  and  v/nen  the  province  of  New-England 
was  firft  fettled,  one  of  the  earlieft  laws  of  the  colony 
was,  that  the  pov/ar  of  marrying  fiiould  belong  to  the 
magi: -rates.  How  diflerent  was  the  cafe  with  the 
firffc  French  fettlers  in  Canada  !  For  many  years  a 
priefl  had  not  been  feen  in  that  country,  and  a  ma- 
giftrate  could  not  marry  :  the  confequence  was  nature 
al ;  men  and  women  joined  themfelves  together  as 
hiifband  and  wife,  trudinp^  to  the  Vvws  and  promifes 
cf  each  other.  Father  Charlevoix,  a  Jefuit,  at  laft 
Iraveliing  into  thofe  wild  regions,  found  many  of  the 
iimpl'^,  innocent  inhabitants  living  in  that  manner; 
with  all  of  whom  he  found  much  tault,  enjoined  them 
to  do  penance,  and  afterwards  married  them.  After 
the  Reftoration,  the  power  of  marrying  again  revert- 
ed to  the  clergy.  1  he  magiftrate,  however,  had  not 
entirely  refigned  his  right  to  that  power ;  but  it  W2S 
by  a  lute  aft  of  parliament  entirely  iurrendered  to 
them,  and  a  penalty  annexed  to  the  fokmnizatica  of 
h  by  any  other  perfon  whatever. 


SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX.  29^ 

AT  a  fynod  held  at  Winchefter  under  Su 
Dunftan,  the  monks  farther  averred,  that  16 
highly  criminal  was  it  for  a  prieft  to  marry,  that  ev- 
en a  wooden  crofs  had  audibly  declared  againll  the 
horrid  practice.  Others  place  the  firft  attempt  of 
this  kind,  to  the  account  of  Alefrick,  archbilhop  of 
Canterbury,  about  the  beginning  of  the  eleventh 
century :  however  this  be,  we  have  among  the  can- 
ons a  decree  of  the  archbiihops  of  Canterbury,  and 
York,  ordaining.  That  all  the  minifters  of  God,  ef- 
pecially  priefts,  Ihculd  obferve  ckaitity,  and  not  take 
wives :  and  in  the  year  1076,  there  was  a  council  af- 
fembled  at  WiDcheiier,  under  Lanfranc,  which  de- 
creed. That  no  canon  (hould  have  a  wife ;  that  fuch 
priefts  as  lived  in  caixles  and  villages  fhould  not  be 
obliged  to  put  their  wives  away,  but  that  inch  as 
had  none  (hould  not  be  allowed  to  marry  ;  and  that 
bifhops  (hould  not  either  ordain  priefts  nor  deacons, 
unkfs  they  previoufly  declared  that  they  were  not 
married.  In  the  year  1 102,  archbiftiop  Anfelra  held 
a  council  at  Weftminfter,  where  it  v/as  decreed.  That 
no  archdeacon,  prieft,  deacon,  or  canon,  fhould  either 
marry  a  wife,  or  retain  her  if  he  had  one.  Anfelm, 
to  give  this  decree  greater  weight,  defired  cf  the 
king,  that  the  principal  men  of  the  kingdom  might 
be  preleiit  at  the  council,  and  that  the  decree  might 
be  enforced  by  the  joint  confent  both  of  the  clergy 
:md  laity  ;  the  king  confented,  and  to  thefe  canons 
the  \\  hole  realm  gave  a  gei^eral  fanflion.  The  clergy 
of  the  province  of  York,  however,  remonftrated 
agaiuft  them,  ard  refufed  to  pat  away  their  wives  ; 
the  unmarried  refiifed  alfo  to  oblige  therafclves  to 
conii!iue  in  that  ftate ;  nor  were  the  clergy  of  Can-* 
terbury  much  more  tractable. 

In  the  c<^lib:icy  of  the  clergy,  we  may  dif- 
cover  alfo  the  origin  of  nunneries ;  itie  intrigues  they 
coul J  procure,  while  at  confcfTion,  were  only  fhort, 
occafnnal,  and  with  women  who  they  could  not  en- 
tirely appropriate  to  themfelves  j  to  remedy  which. 


^96  SKETCHES  OF  the  SEX. 

they  probably  fabricated  tlie  fcheme  of  having  reli* 
gious  houfeb',  where  young  women  fhould  be  fhut 
up  from  the  world,  and  where  no  man  but  a  prielt, 
on  pain  of  death,  fhould  enter.  That  in  thefedark 
retreats,  fecluded  from  cenfure,  and  from  the  know- 
ledge of  the  world,  they  might  riot  in  licentioufnefs. 
I'hey  were  fenfible,  that  women,  furrounded  with 
the  gay  and  the  amiable,  might  frequently  fpum  at 
the  offers  of  a  cloiftered  prieft,  but  that  while  confix 
ned  entirely  to  their  own  fex,  they  would  take  pleaf- 
ure  in  a  vifit  from  one  of  the  other,  however  floven- 
ly  and  unpolifhed.  In  the  world  at  large,  Ihould  the 
crimes  of  the  women  be  detected,  the  priefts  have  no 
iuterefts  in  mitigating  their  punifhment ;  but  here  the 
whole  com.munity  of  them  are  interelted  in  the  fecret 
of  every  intrigue,  and  fliould  Lucinda  unluckilv  pro- 
claim it,  ihe  can  feldom  do  it  witnout  the  walls  of 
the  convent,  and  if  fhe  does,  the  priefts  lay  the  crime 
onfome'lucklefs  laic,  that  the  holy  culprit  may  come 
off  with  impunity. 


^.^!^#S^ 


tmtmmmnmmmnm 

_Jli  Miiiiwmiirm  mmrrinimn-rnnirfn  T-'-rrrr ,.^~^^~>-^^.p.>«~»/»^^^..^y 

CONTENTS. 

Chapter.  Page* 

Advertisement^      .      .      -       -  3 

/,  OF  the firjl  woman  and  her  antediluvian  defcen^ 

d^ntSy         -          -           -           -           -         -  5 

//.   Of  lujinen  in  the  patriardhil  agesy           -         -  6 

Iff,  OftJic  luoinen  of  ancient  Eo;xpty        -       .       -  8 

IV,  Of  the  tncdcrn  Egyptian  women ^       -        -       -  lo 

V,  Of  the  Perftan  ivonien^  -  -  -  -  ^  3 
VL  Of  the  Grecian  women  ^  -  -  -  •  1 5 
VIL  Of  the  Grecian  courtezans ^  -  -  -  19 
VIIL  Of  the  Roryian  women f  -  -  -  -  22 
IJT,  Laws  rjid  cttjlmns  refpecling  the  Roman  wofjsen,  28 
JT,  Of  the  ejfe6fs  cf  Chrifiianity  on   the  manners  of 

women^           ...         -         -         -  30 

XI,  Of  women  in  Savage  life^          -          -          -  33 

XIL   Of  the  Eaficrn  women ^          -          -         -      -  38 

XIIL  Of  the  Chinefe  women ^           -            -            -  42 

XIV.  Of  the  wives  of  the  Indian  prieflsy        -        -  43 

XV.  A  comparifon   between    the    Alahc^netans  and 

Dutch y  with  regard  to  their  women y      -      -  44 

XV L  Of  the  African  women ^  -  -  -  47 
XV lU  Of  the  effeHs  cf  chivalry  on  the  charaders 

and  manners  of  women,         -          -         -  50 
XVIIU  The  opinion  of  twD  modem  authors  concern^ 

ing  chivalry y  -  -  -  "55 

XIX,  Of  the  great  enterprifes  of  women  in  the  times 

cf  chivalry y          -          -          -          -         .  6# 

XX,  Other  curious  particulars  concerning  femah 

in  thofe  ages^         --.--. 

XXI,  Of  the  Arabian  women  ^         -            -            -  67 

XXII,  Of  the  learning  of  women y  -  -  -  68 
XXII L  Of  the  Eur^jpean  w^nen^  -  •  -  73 
XXIV.  Of  tit;  Jrymh  iLmen^        -         -         •74 


298  CONTENTS. 

XXV,  Of  the  Italian  ivomen,          -           ^          m  ^g 

XXVL  Of  the  SpaniJJj  women^         -          -          -  82 

XXFIL  Of  the  EngliJJj  wo7nen,         ...  85 

XXVIIL  Of  the  Ruffian  ijuomcn^         -         -        -  87 

XXIX.  Oj  the  Ger.nan  women,         -         -         -  89 

XXX»  On  the  comparative  merit  of  the  two  fcxes,  gz 
XXXL  On  the  religions  and  domeflic  virtues  of 

women,         -         -         .          .          --^  pg 

XXXII,  On  female  friendfhip ,         -           -          -  loz 

XXXIIL   On  female  henevolmce,         -         -        -  105 

XXXIV.  On  female  pat  riot  ifm,         -         -          -  106 

XXXV.  Of  women  with  regard  to  polified  If e,  -  108 
XXXVI  On  the  idea  of  Female  inferiority,  -  no 
XXXVIL   On  female  ftmplicity,         -         -          -  113 

XXXV III,  On  themild  magnanimity  of  wo7nen,  ii3 

XXXIX,  On  female  delicacy,  -  -  -  -119 
XL,  On  female  wit,  -  -  -  -  -  I2Z 
XLL  On  the  influence  Gf female  fociety,  -  -  124 
XLIL  Of  the  Britiflo  ladies  at  different  periods,  130 
XL  HI,  On  the  privileges  of  Brit  fh  women,  -  142 
XLIV,  On  female  knowledge,  -  -  -  148 
XLV,  On  female  culture   and   accompliflmwits  in 

different  ages,         -           -           -           -  1 52 
XLVI,  On  the  neceffary.  mental  accomplifhments  of 

ladies,          -           -          -          -          -  157 

XLVIL  On  the  monaftic  life,  -  -  -  -  161 
XLVIIL  On  the  degrees    of  fentimental    attach^ 

ment  at  different  periods ^          -          -  1 67 
XL IX.  A  view  of  matrimony  in    three  different 

H^'h 173' 

L.  Of  betrothing  and  marriage^          -          -         -  174 

LI.   On  the  choice  of  a  hiifh  and,          -          -          -  178 

LIl,   Mrs.  Piozzi^s  adviceto  a  new  married  man^  187 

LI  II.   Gar  rick's  advice  to  married  ladies,             -  192 

LIV,  On  widowhood,  -  -  -  «  "  '93 
I4V.   Dr.   Schombcrg's  method  of  reading  for  fc" 

male  imp roi>e ment,          -          -         -          -  2 00 

LVL  Ike  deaths  of  Lucretia  and  Virginia,         ^  203 


CONTENTS.  299 

LVIL  Thoughts  on  the  Education  of  ivomefty  204 

£^y  idL   Wedded  love  is  infinitely  preferable  to  VS" 

rietyf         -  ^         -  -        -       -     206 

LLY.  On  the  revolutions  of  the  Frefich  fafhionsy 
liithfome  advice  to  the  ladies  refpeEling 
certain  parts  of  drefsy  -  -  •     ihid* 

i.X,   On  looking  at  the  picture  of  a  beautiful  fe^ 

malty  -  -  -  --        -215 

LXL  Educ(2tion  of  women  in  Afia  and  Africa^^ 
Amufemenfs  of  the  Grecian  ladies — Re^ 
ligious  fefiivals  of  the  Greth — Reli^ 
gious  dancers y  v5'r.  -  -  -     21 7 

LXIL  PuuiJJjment  of  Polygamy  in  Egypt—Sem' 
iramis  of  AJfyria — Account  of  the  Syb- 
arites— CuJJoms  of  the  Grecian  ivomeny     222 

LXlll,   Rape  of  the  Sabine    Virgins — Women  of 

Scythia,  Mejfageta —  Cruelt)\of  Amefiris y     227 

LXIV,  Japanefe  delicacy — Delicacy  of  the  Ly- 
dians — Licentious  Law  of  Denmark-^ 
Kfctraordinary  women ^         -        -        "     2*33 

LXV.  Courage  of  Savage  women — Dcfperate  acl 
of  Euihira — Lu>:urious  drefs  of  the 
Grecian  ladies^ — Eir/l  ufe  of  hair  powdery     238 

LXVL  Grecian  and  Spartan  Indecency — Cruelty 

of  the  Grecian  women y  -  -        -     244 

LXVIL  Drunkennefs  of  fome  Grecian  women-^ 
Story  of  Luc  ret  ia — Indecency  of  Roman 
women — Indecency  of  Savage  nations^  249 

LXVIII.  Naked  Fahiers — Mahometan  plurality  of 

wives — Women  of  Otaheite^  -        -     255 

LXIX.   Italian  debauchery — Female  flanderers*^ 

Crim,   Con,  of  Claudius  and  Pcmpeiay      260 

LXX.  Jen  ifh  cufioms — Ancient  cufioms — Athen- 
ian midwife y  is'c. —  ^mnadian  women — 
SuperfiitioUy  ^f.  -  -       -         -     2(*5 

LXX  I,  Cufioms  of  the  A  ^  ufcovites — Cafi  ration — 
Eunuch. — Origin  of  Nunneries — Cuf- 
ioms in  the  Mo^ul  Empire^         -         -     270 


3CC  CONTENTS. 

JLXXIL  Grecian    couripif^    Power    cf  ph'iltr-es 
and  charms — Eajhrn  cotiriJJjlp — Long 
hair  of  ^apcons  and  Danes^  -  -     ^74 

i.XXlll,  St,  Valentine^s  day — Immodejy  at 
Babylon — Indecency  at  Adriatjople — The 
two  kings  of  Swede n^  -  -  -     280 

i^XXIV.  The  Lapland  and  Greenland  lady —  Sale 
of  children  to  pur  chef e  wives'^- tlurality 
and  community  of  wives — Girls  fold  at 
AuEiion^  -  -  -  -  -285 

ZX'Xi^,  Fnnifbment  of  Adult ety — Anecdote  cf 
Cajar — Power  of  Alarryingy  ^c» — 
Celibacy  cf  the  Clergy ^         -         -        -     *9© 


h 

A 


I 


'W^  I 


